The 17-year-old suspect said he was acting in self-defense; if convicted of first-degree murd3r, he could be sentenced to life in prison.

The 17-year-old suspect in a fatal stabbing at a Texas track meet is being prosecuted under a state law that lets prosecutors charge minors as adults without judicial oversight — a policy that has disproportionately affected Black and brown youth accused of serious crimes. (Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

The father of a Texas high school student athlete stabbed to death by another student, is seeking answers from the school district for allowing his son’s accused k!ller to graduate.

What began as a dispute over a seat at a high school track meet at a school neither 17-year-old boy attended on April 2 ended in tragedy.

The student who was stabbed, identified as Austin Metcalf, di3d. The other student, Karmelo Anthony, remained at the scene and told investigators with the Frisco Police Department that he acted in self-defense, multiple news outlets have reported. Since Anthony posted bail, Metcalf’s father, Jeff Metcalf, has been demanding answers from the Frisco Independent School District, questioning how he was allowed to graduate while they were left to bury their son.

Anthony reportedly had a 3.7 GPA and had earned enough credits to graduate, according to multiple news outlets. Sources told CBS News Texas that his graduation was part of an “agreement”—something Jeff Metcalf now questions in light of the school’s own policies. Meanwhile, an online petition has collected more than 15,000 signatures, calling for Austin Metcalf to be awarded an honorary diploma, as he was expected to graduate in 2026.

The viral attention of the tragedy has sparked confusion, particularly among those familiar with the career of former NBA star Carmelo Anthony, who is not connected to the case.

Karmelo Anthony, 17, is facing a first-degree murd3r charge. He’s being prosecuted under Texas’ “concurrent jurisdiction” laws, often referred to as prosecutor “direct file” laws. These laws allow prosecutors to charge minors as adults without judicial oversight — a policy that has disproportionately affected Black and brown youth accused of serious crimes like homicide in 12 states and Washington, D.C.

As of 2024, there are 56,245 people serving life without parole sentences who were under the age of 25 at the time of their offense, according to a January report from The Sentencing Project. More than half of the reported 25,254 people incarcerated with that sentence from 1995 to 2017, were Black, a separate report from The Sentencing Project revealed.

Texas ranks among the states with the highest number of life-sentenced individuals under 25, with 18,358 people currently serving life terms.

Since 2008, hundreds of efforts have been made across the country to reform direct-file laws or introduce second-chance legislation. In Texas, two related bills have been proposed — one in 2011 and another in 2023 — according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. Of those, only the 2011 bill was enacted, and it focused on sentencing and probation hearings for individuals convicted of certain drug offenses, outlining the conditions of their community supervision.

Anthony, who is Black, has been charged with first-degree murd3r. The victim was white.

Capital B submitted a public information request with the Frisco Police Department on April 24 for the arrest warrant affidavit that was responded to with a redacted media report.

What we know so far

After a police officer arrived, Anthony allegedly asked if Metcalf was going to be OK, multiple news outlets reported. The officer saw blood on Anthony’s hands, and a knife was recovered from the stands. Investigators spoke to several witnesses, including those who were nearby when Metcalf told Anthony he needed to move.

“Anthony grabbed his bag, opened it and reached inside and proceeded to tell [Metcalf], ‘Touch me and see what happens,’” the affidavit read.

Metcalf touched Anthony after he warned him not to, and the encounter escalated, according to the affidavit. Anthony then allegedly pulled out a knife and stabbed Metcalf in the chest before running away.

Anthony’s bail was initially set at $1 million, but after a bond hearing on Monday, it was reduced to $250,000. As a condition of his release, he was placed on house arrest, required to wear an ankle monitor, and is prohibited from leaving home without the judge’s permission, according to The Dallas Morning News. He was released shortly after posting bond — a decision that sparked backlash and threats against Collin County Judge Angela Tucker, who approved the reduced amount and is also Black.

As Anthony’s case gained national attention, a GoFundMe page not started by his family began circulating. It falsely claimed to raise money for his legal defense, his parents said during a  press conference the day after his release. The family said that they were also receiving threats and there was misinformation about the case.

Before the press conference — hosted by Next Generation Action Network — started, Metcalf’s father was spotted amongst the crowd. He left after police on the scene spoke to him, Fox 26 Houston captured live.

The Collin County District Attorney’s Office is prosecuting Anthony’s case. A grand jury will review the evidence and decide whether to formally indict him on the first-degree murd3r charge filed at the time of his arrest, or on a lesser charge such as manslaughter. If indicted and later convicted, Anthony could face a mandatory life sentence — though, as a 17-year-old, he would be eligible for parole after 40 years under Texas law.

Anthony is expected back in court once there’s a grand jury decision. If the panel decides there’s enough evidence to indict him on any charges, a court date will be set.