Teen Accused in Fatal Track Meet Stabbing Hires New Defense Attorney Ahead of Court Appearance
Karmelo Anthony, the 17-year-old charged with the fatal stabbing of high school athlete Austin Metcalf, has retained a new defense attorney as his first court appearance approaches.
The tragic incident occurred on April 2 during a track meet at Kuykendall Stadium in Frisco, Texas. According to authorities, Metcalf was fatally stabbed in the chest after a confrontation with Anthony, who had reportedly taken a seat in a tent designated for Frisco Memorial High School students. Metcalf, a standout athlete and aspiring football player, had been attending the event with his twin brother, Hunter.
Witnesses say the altercation began when Metcalf approached Anthony—who attends Centennial High School—and asked him to move. Though the two teens had never met before, the encounter quickly escalated. In a devastating turn, Anthony allegedly pulled a knife from his backpack and stabbed Metcalf in the heart. Metcalf collapsed and died in his brother’s arms before help could arrive.
Anthony was arrested at the scene and later charged with first-degree murder. He is currently being held in Collin County Jail on a $1 million bond.
As of yesterday, a highly controversial fundraiser launched to support Anthony and his family amid the legal proceedings has already raised over $400,000, drawing both sympathy and outrage from the public.
Ahead of today’s scheduled bond hearing, Anthony’s family has enlisted the services of prominent Dallas-based criminal defense attorney Mike Howard to lead his legal defense.
Defense Team Shake-Up as Karmelo Anthony Prepares for Court; Community Mourns Austin Metcalf
As legal proceedings begin to take shape, Karmelo Anthony—the 17-year-old charged with the fatal stabbing of fellow high school student Austin Metcalf—has officially changed legal representation.
Former defense attorneys Billy Clark and Kim T. Cole confirmed to WFAA on Saturday that they will no longer be representing Anthony. The announcement was made public by the Next Generation Action Network (NGAN), a nonprofit organization that has been supporting Anthony and his family.
In a formal statement, NGAN shared:
“The family of Karmelo Anthony has officially retained Attorney Mike Howard as lead counsel in Karmelo’s legal defense. We are grateful for the early support from Attorneys Billy Clark and Kim Cole, and we continue working to build a strong legal team for the fight ahead.”
The organization emphasized its continued commitment to due process:
“Karmelo deserves what every citizen deserves: fair treatment and full rights under the law. We won’t stop fighting until he gets it.”
Meanwhile, the community gathered in grief over the weekend to honor the life of Austin Metcalf. A private funeral service was held Saturday morning at Hope Fellowship Frisco East church, followed by a solemn private burial.
Metcalf, a beloved student-athlete and aspiring football star, died tragically after a confrontation during a track meet on April 2. The incident has sent shockwaves through the Frisco community and sparked a broader conversation about youth violence and school safety.
Rest in peace, Austin Metcalf.