The father of slain teen Austin Metcalf lauded the grand jury indictment against his son’s suspected killer almost three months after the fatal stabbing at a Texas high school track meet.
Jeff Metcalf declared justice was being served for his 17-year-old son, who was allegedly killed by fellow teen Karmelo Anthony during a fight over a seat at Frisco’s Kuykendall Stadium on April 2.
“INDICTED ! FIRST DEGREE MURDER! #JUSTICE FOR AUSTIN!” Metcalf wrote on Facebook after Collin County District Attorney Greg Willis announced the indictment on Tuesday.
Anthony, now 18, was indicted on the murder charge by a grand jury that was presented evidence by Willis’ team over several weeks.
“I am pleased that we are moving forward. With the first-degree murder indictment, it now goes into the court system,” Metcalf said in a statement obtained by CBS Texas. “I fully believe that justice will be served for Austin Metcalf. I look forward to the forthcoming trial. But it will never bring my son back.”
Willis echoed the heartbroken father’s sentiments after the indictment was announced.
“Earlier this spring, our community was shaken by what happened at a school track meet in Frisco — the violent loss of 17-year-old Austin Metcalf,” Willis said. “For weeks, my team has been presenting evidence to the grand jury. Today, I summarized that evidence, and I asked the Grand Jury to return a first degree murder indictment against Karmelo Anthony — which they did.
“With that indictment, the case now moves formally into the court system. From this point forward, we’ll continue doing our part — fully and fairly — to pursue justice under the law. The trial schedule will be set by the court. But when the time comes, we’ll be ready,” the DA added.
The younger Metcalf and his twin brother, Hunter, were at the track meet with their high school, Frisco Memorial, before the tragedy.
Austin Metcalf allegedly spotted Anthony, a senior at Frisco Centennial High School, sitting underneath his team’s tent in the stadium’s grandstand and confronted the uninvited visitor.
During a brief exchange, Anthony warned Metcalf not to touch him before he allegedly pulled a knife from his bag and stabbed the teen in the heart.
Anthony allegedly ran from the stands as Metcalf died in his twin brother’s arms.
The suspected killer was captured by police minutes later.
Anthony, who was 17 at the time of the stabbing, was arrested and booked on a $1 million bond.
He has been under house arrest since he convinced a judge to lower his bail to $250,000, citing financial hardship.
He has been serving the court order out of a gated community where rental homes go for $3,500 a month.
Anthony’s lawyer, Mike Howard, stood by his client’s innocence, claiming Anthony acted in self-defense during the fight.
“Karmelo and his family are confident in the justice system and the people of Collin County to be fair and impartial. Of course, Karmelo looks forward to his day in court,” Howard said in a video message after the indictment.
“We expect that when the full story is heard, the prosecution will not be able to rule out the reasonable doubt that Karmelo Anthony may have acted in self-defense,” he added.
Anthony received his diploma from Frisco Centennial in May, after school officials talked with the teen’s parents and an advocacy group.
The teen was not allowed to attend the May 22 ceremony as district rules prevent students who committed or are suspected of a serious criminal offense from participating in the graduation.
Anthony faces a life sentence in prison if found guilty.
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