Karmelo Anthony, 17, Charged with Murder of Promising Athlete at Texas Track Meet, Secures New Defense Attorney Ahead of Court Appearance
In a shocking and tragic incident earlier this month, Karmelo Anthony, a 17-year-old student from Centennial High School, has been charged with the murder of Austin Metcalf, a standout high school athlete, at a track meet in Frisco, Texas.
The heartbreaking event unfolded on April 2 at Kuykendall Stadium, where Metcalf—a rising football star attending Frisco Memorial High School—was stabbed in the heart during a confrontation sparked by Anthony sitting in a tent reserved for Metcalf’s school. Austin had been attending the meet with his twin brother, Hunter.
Reports reveal that Austin approached Anthony to ask him to move, leading to a heated exchange between two teenagers who had never met before. The situation escalated horrifically when Anthony allegedly pulled a knife from his backpack and fatally stabbed Austin in the chest. In a tragic moment, Austin bled to death in the arms of his twin brother.
Following the incident, Anthony was arrested and charged with first-degree murder. He remains in custody at Collin County Jail with bail set at $1 million. Despite the grave charges, a controversial fundraiser launched for Anthony and his family has already raised over $400,000 “during this challenging and difficult time,” stirring debate in the community.
As Anthony’s bond hearing approached on Monday, April 14, his family retained Mike Howard, a seasoned Dallas criminal defense attorney, signaling their intent to mount a strong defense.
Karmelo Anthony’s former attorneys, Billy Clark and Kim T. Cole, confirmed to WFAA on Saturday that they will no longer be representing the teenager. The Next Generation Action Network (NGAN), a nonprofit organization backing Anthony, officially announced the change in legal representation.
In a statement, NGAN said,
“The family of Karmelo Anthony has officially retained Attorney Mike Howard as lead counsel in Karmelo’s legal defense. We are deeply grateful for the early efforts of Attorneys Billy Clark and Kim Cole and remain committed to assembling a strong legal team for the challenging road ahead.”
The organization emphasized their commitment, adding,
“Karmelo deserves what every citizen is entitled to: fair treatment and full rights under the law. We will continue fighting tirelessly until justice is served.”
Meanwhile, a private funeral was held Saturday morning for Austin Metcalf at Hope Fellowship Frisco East Church, followed by a private burial attended by family and close friends.
Rest in peace, Austin Metcalf.
