A Texas high schooler’s deadly attack on another student at a track meet has triggered legal motions, family grief, and fundraisers as both sides speak out.
According to an arrest affidavit obtained by NBC 5 Dallas–Fort Worth (DFW), when officers referred to him as the “alleged suspect,” Karmelo, a student at Centennial High School, responded with, “I’m not alleged, I did it.”
The affidavit details Karmelo claiming he acted in self-defense, telling a school resource officer on the scene, “I was protecting myself,” and “He put his hands on me.” Authorities say he also asked officers whether what happened could be considered self-defense and whether the victim would be okay.
Karmelo’s admission came shortly after the incident, which occurred around 10 a.m. on April 3, Thursday, during a high school track meet at Kuykendall Stadium. According to an arrest affidavit, Karmelo had taken shelter under a pop-up tent belonging to another school as rain began to fall.
When he was asked to move, an altercation broke out between him and Austin, 17. A witness told police that Karmelo unzipped his bag, reached inside, and warned him, “Touch me and see what happens.” Moments later, Austin allegedly grabbed Karmelo, who then pulled out a black knife and stabbed him once in the chest.
A school resource officer from nearby Staley Middle School was the first to respond. Austin suffered a fatal wound to the heart. His father, Jeff Metcalf, said his son died in the arms of his twin brother, Hunter.
“They were twins, identical twins, and his brother was holding on to him, trying to make it stop bleeding, and he died in his brother’s arms,” he recalled.
There, the family prayed as doctors attempted to save his son’s life. Despite their efforts, Austin could not be revived. His father described the loss as part of “God’s plan,” though he said he didn’t understand it and called what happened “murder.”
Austin’s mother, Meghan, recalled rushing to the hospital as soon as Hunter called her. “My son is not here anymore, and I don’t understand it,” she said. “He was the most amazing kid. So smart. He had college football guys looking at him to play in college. His goal was to play in college.”
Hunter remembered reacting immediately when the incident happened. He turned quickly to his brother and, though visibly emotional, chose not to describe the full scene. He shared that he did everything he could to help Austin in those critical moments.
Hunter said Austin “did everything” for their family. “As a linebacker, he was a stud, and I always tried to fill those shoes and play with him. I had a blast my whole life playing sports with him,” he remarked.
Although Austin was only four minutes older, Hunter said he always looked up to him, adding, “He was a big brother even though we’re the same age.”
Meghan shared the emotional weight of losing her son and spoke about how she and her family intend to carry his memory forward. “We just want to make sure that everybody knows how much Austin is still going to be in our lives as far as our memories and our hearts forever. It’s going to be really hard,” she explained.
In a joint statement released on April 4, Friday, Meghan and Hunter thanked the community for its overwhelming support. They said they would leave the investigation in the hands of detectives while focusing on commemorating Austin’s life and legacy.
The family also launched a GoFundMe campaign, titled “Honoring Austin Metcalf: Help His Family Heal,” where Austin’s dad, described him as a driven student-athlete with a 4.0 GPA and a deep passion for football.
“We will all remember him for the way he impacted others’ lives. I love you forever, son. It’s not goodbye, it’s see you later. God will take care of us till we meet again. RIP. Love, Dad,” Jeff wrote. The campaign has raised $304,914 as of this writing.
On the day after the stabbing, Memorial High School paused during second period to honor Austin, as the community continued to rally around his grieving family.
Karmelo is currently charged with murder and remains in custody at the Collin County Jail on a $1 million bond. His attorneys Billy Clark and Kim T. Cole, released their first public statement on April 7, Monday, expressing condolences to the Metcalf family and emphasizing Karmelo’s right to due process.
“Karmelo and the entire Anthony family are sincerely saddened that a life was lost,” they said. “We are committed to ensuring that Karmelo’s rights are indeed protected throughout each phase of the criminal justice system.”
They confirmed plans to work with the Collin County District Attorney’s Office to seek a reduction of the bond and a re-evaluation of the charge. The attorneys also noted that Karmelo told police he acted in self-defense and asked whether the incident could be considered as such.
“This will certainly be a long road ahead and during this challenging time, we ask for prayers for both families and we ask for your patience and respect for the legal process as we seek the truth,” the lawyers stated.
Shortly after the incident, Karmelo’s family launched their own GiveSendGo campaign, titled “Help Karmelo Official Fund.” The page describes the circulating narrative as “false, unjust, and harmful,” and thanks supporters for their prayers and donations.
As of this writing, the fundraiser has collected $267,972 toward its $300,000 goal.
One donor, Stephanie Crutchfield, owner and CEO of multiple businesses, including Cutting Edge Tax Software and Crutchfield Taxes & Financial Solutions, contributed $1,000 and shared a public message of support, “Let’s get this baby home. I have a young black son as well, and I live in Collin County.
She added, “This baby was bullied and was defending himself, I know it’s [sic] more to this story. I’m praying 🙏🏾 for you and your family. Please let me know how else I can help.”