Karmelo Anthony, a teenager who has confessed to fatally stabbing another high school student at a track meet in Texas, has been formally charged with first-degree murder.
Austin Metcalf, aged 17, tragically passed away while in his brother’s embrace following the assault by Anthony, who was also 17 at the time, in the stands of David Kuykendall Stadium in Frisco on April 2.
Although Anthony, who is now 18 years old, claimed he acted in self-defense when he attacked Metcalf with a knife, he has not provided a reason for having a weapon with him at a school event.
However, Tuesday, he was formally charged by a grand jury in the crime that has drawn national attention over race and privilege.
‘I fully believe that justice will be served for Austin Metcalf,’ his father Jeff told DailyMail.com of the indictment.
‘I look forward to the forthcoming trial. But it will never bring my son back.’
Frisco, Texas police have said the incident stemmed from Metcalf asking Anthony to leave his team tent since he didn’t go to the same school.
The indictment comes weeks after the local district attorney began presenting evidence to a grand jury, asking jurors to uphold the first-degree murder count local cops originally brought against the teen.
Austin Metcalf, 17, was stabbed and later died after a confrontation with Karmelo Anthony at an April 2 track meet in Frisco, Texas
Austin Metcalf, 17, (pictured) was bleeding in his brother’s arms as paramedics headed to the track
‘With that indictment, the case now moves formally into the court system. We know this case has struck a deep nerve — here in Collin County and beyond,’ Collin County District Attorney Greg Willis said in a press release Tuesday afternoon.
‘That’s understandable. When something like this happens at a school event, it shakes people to the core.’
Grand jury proceedings are held behind closed doors, and unlike most court hearings, are not open to the public.
However, Anthony’s advisor Dominque Alexander told DailyMail.com that his defense attorney was able to present a packet with evidence Anthony wanted the jurors to see.
The embattled teen learned about the indictment shortly before the news was released to media Tuesday afternoon, Alexander added.
‘A ham sandwich can be indicted in America, right,’ Alexander told DM, explaining Alexander had been expecting this outcome.
‘Right now, this is the first day of Karmelo pretty much preparing to defend himself in the court of law.’
Just last week, DailyMail.com reported on footage of the stabbing released by the Frisco Independent School District.
Police investigate the scene under the tent where the stabbing took place. Anthony says he stabbed Metcalf in self defense after a clash over seats in the bleachers
Metcalf was stabbed on the visitor’s side of the field at David Kuykendall Stadium in Frisco, Texas, on April 2. The camera was on the opposite side of the field
Although Frisco ISD allowed Daily Mail to view the video of the stabbing, it did not make the footage public
The video of the stabbing, reviewed by the Daily Mail, was captured from a camera next to the press box (position above)
The video, recorded on a fixed camera at David Kuykendall Stadium, did not show any fighting, pushing or physical altercation between the boys prior to the knifing.
Instead, the clip viewed by Daily Mail at school district headquarters, showed several people sitting under the Memorial High School team tent.
Without any kind of apparent escalation, people can be seen running and walking away from the tent.
Later, what appears to be Metcalf’s body is moved out of the stadium bleachers to a walkway near the bottom of the seating area.
The surveillance appears to challenge the self-defense claim made by the murder suspect, offering little visible evidence that Anthony was in immediate danger before the attack.
The Frisco Police Department would not comment on whether it is the only video of the slaying.
Anthony remains under house arrest at a secret location after persuading a judge that his safety was at risk following threats he received while living in a gated community.
He spent nearly two weeks in jail before a judge agreed to reduce his bond, allowing him to await trial under house arrest.
