As a murder charge proceeds, the father of a teenager killed at a school function in Texas speaks out, giving the widely followed case additional emotional weight.
Austin Metcalf was fatally stabbed at a Frisco ISD track meet two months ago by Karmelo Anthony, a teenager who has been charged with first-degree murder.
https://www.instagram.com/fox4news/?utm_source=ig_embed&ig_rid=7005c6d6-0b70-46d9-bfe8-f37291674f25&ig_mid=C3BB1922-172F-416C-87B7-DE5DFF89A9D4
Following weeks of examining the evidence, a Collin County grand jury formally charged him on Tuesday, June 24, 2025, CBS News reported. At the time of the April 2 incident at Kuykendall Stadium, Karmelo, who is now 18 years old, was 17.
According to authorities, Austin died as a result of a fight between the two teenagers that turned violent. After being taken into custody that day, Karmelo was later placed under house arrest and freed on a reduced bond. 17-year-olds are prosecuted as adults under Texas law, and a conviction carries a maximum sentence of five years to life in prison.
Collin County District Attorney (DA) Greg Willis clarified in a statement released on April 9 that Karmelo was not eligible for the death penalty or life in prison without the possibility of parole because of the Roper v. Simmons decision from the U.S. Supreme Court in 2005.
“The Supreme Court has said not only can you not seek the death penalty against someone who committed a crime when they’re 17, you can’t even get them life without parole. That would not be something we could do even if we wanted to,” Greg said.
https://www.instagram.com/dailymail/?utm_source=ig_embed&ig_rid=2fdfead6-e9b4-4d76-8e60-52dd98165c3c&ig_mid=1D3EF374-5C40-4581-A1D2-5A687CD4C18C
That same day, Frisco ISD Superintendent Mike Waldrip addressed the impact of the tragedy on the school community. “Now more than ever, we must lean on one another. In the face of adversity, we will continue to stand together, with compassion, strength, and unwavering support for our students and each other,” he wrote in a letter to parents.
Greg added that his office had spent weeks presenting evidence to the grand jury after the indictment for first-degree murder. “When something like this happens at a school event, it shakes people to the core,” he stated.
He stated further, “But the justice system works best when it moves with steadiness and with principle. That’s what we’re committed to. And that’s exactly what this case deserves.” In the wake of the indictment, both legal teams and the victim’s family responded publicly.
Mike Howard, Karmelo’s lawyer, expressed faith in the legal system in a video statement. “Karmelo and his family are confident in the justice system and the people of Collin County to be fair and impartial,” he stated. “Of course, Karmelo looks forward to his day in court.”
Mike continued, “Because it’s only in a trial that the full story can be heard, and that impartial justice can be done.” They expect that once the full story is heard, the prosecution will be unable to eliminate reasonable doubt that Karmelo may have acted in self-defense.
Meanwhile, Austin’s father, Jeff Metcalf, acknowledged the grand jury’s decision while expressing the pain of his family’s loss.
“I am pleased that we are moving forward. With the first-degree murder indictment, it now goes into the court system. I strongly believe that justice will be delivered for Austin Metcalf. I look forward to the forthcoming trial. But it will never bring my baby back,” Jeff remarked.
As the judicial process continues forward, fresh case information — including firsthand police statements and family recollections — reveal more about what happened that day and its lasting impact.
Karmelo directly admitted to police that he was responsible for the fatal stabbing of Austin, a Memorial High School student. According to an arrest affidavit obtained by NBC 5 Dallas–Fort Worth (DFW), when officers referred to him as the “alleged suspect,” Karmelo responded with, “I’m not alleged, I did it.”