The killing of Austin Metcalf by Karmelo Anthony occurred on April 2, 2025, at a high school track meet in Frisco, Texas, at Kuykendall Stadium. Austin Metcalf, a 17-year-old junior at Frisco Memorial High School, was fatally stabbed in the chest by Karmelo Anthony, a 17-year-old student from Frisco Centennial High School, during a dispute over seating under a team tent. According to witness accounts and police affidavits, the altercation began when Metcalf asked Anthony to move from under the Memorial High School team's tent, as Anthony was not part of that team. Anthony reportedly responded with, "Touch me and see what happens," and reached into his bag. When Metcalf pushed or grabbed Anthony to get him to leave, Anthony pulled out a knife and stabbed Metcalf once in the chest before fleeing the scene. Metcalf died shortly after in his twin brother Hunter's arms, despite efforts to save him, and was pronounced dead at the hospital by 10:53 a.m. Anthony was quickly apprehended by police, admitted to the stabbing, and claimed self-defence, saying, "I'm not alleged, I did it," and "He put his hands on me." He is currently charged with first-degree murder and held on a $1 million bond.
The incident has shocked many due to its suddenness and brutality over a seemingly trivial matter—a seating disagreement lasting less than 30 seconds. Metcalf was a well-regarded student-athlete with a 4.0 GPA, voted MVP of his football team, and known for his bright future, making his death particularly jarring. The fact that it happened in broad daylight at a school event, witnessed by peers and coaches, adds to the sense of disbelief. Anthony's immediate confession and self-defence claim, paired with the rapid escalation from words to lethal violence, further amplify the shock. The community's response has been intense, with Metcalf's family raising nearly $250,000 for funeral expenses, while Anthony's family and supporters have raised over $185,000 for his legal defence, framing him as a victim of aggression, just as was done with druggie George Floyd.
The broader reaction has turned this into a flashpoint for racial and cultural debates, which heightens its notoriety. Some have politicised the killing, with narratives on social media and in commentary portraying it as emblematic of deeper societal issues—whether racial integration, Black violence, or White entitlement—depending on the perspective. Claims of Anthony being celebrated as a "hero" akin to George Floyd stem from fringe voices like Tariq Nasheed, who called Metcalf a "suspected white supremacist" without evidence. The deeper issue here is that it is apparently fine for this White young man to be slaughtered because, the one who stabbed him is Black, and all killers of Whites by Blacks must be "heroes" as well. What other interpretation can be made of their claims?