The lawyers for a boy who killed another teen at a track meet in Texas want the murder charge against him downgraded.
Billy Clark and Kim T. Cole will represent high school senior Karmelo Anthony after he fatally stabbed Austin Metcalf, 17, at the Kuykendall Stadium last week in Frisco.
The attorneys say they plan on working with the Collin County District Attorney’s Office to seek an agreement for a ‘better determination’ of the filed murder charge, as reported by the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.
They also want Anthony’s ‘excessive’ $1 million bond reduced.
‘Karmelo like all citizens of the United States, is entitled to a fair and impartial legal process,’ the attorneys said. ‘We are committed to ensuring that Karmelo’s rights are indeed protected throughout each phase of the criminal justice system.’
They added: ‘Karmelo and the entire Anthony family are sincerely saddened that a life was lost and offer their condolences to the family of Austin Metcalf.’
It comes after Frisco authorities have issued multiple statements denying unfounded rumors regarding Metcalf’s killing.
A viral post that falsely claimed to be from the Collin County Medical Examiner’s Office said Metcalf died from an ‘MDMA drug overdose’ and that the stab wound was a secondary factor.
Police have arrested and charged 17-year-old Karmelo Anthony in Austin Metcalf’s murder
Police have been forced to deny unfounded viral information about the killing of 17-year-old Austin Metcalf, who was fatally stabbed by another teen, according to authorities
The killing happened last at the the Kuykendall Stadium in Frisco, Texas
‘The Frisco Police Department is aware of an image circulating on social media purporting to be a report from the Collin County Medical Examiner’s Office,’ police said in a statement Friday. ‘At this time, the report has NOT been released. Therefore, any information currently found online is FALSE.’
‘Beware of those taking to social media to deliberately spread misinformation, hate, fear and division,’ Shilson said, in reference to posts shared online highlighting that Metcalf is white and Anthony is black.
‘Violence cannot be the go-to means that our young people use as their only way to resolve disputes. We must have conversations about what guides their decisions and motivations,’ the chief added.
Chief Shilson said his department will investigate the source of the misinformation under third-degree felony charges of impersonation, as reported by Click 2 Houston.
Anthony stabbed Metcalf in the heart, killing him, after Metcalf told him he was sitting in the wrong chair at the match between their two schools, according to police.
An arrest report says a confrontation between the two star football players began when Metcalf told Anthony he was sitting under another team’s pop-up tent and told him to move.
The two students from different high schools began fighting before Anthony unzipped his bag and reached in, telling Metcalf: ‘Touch me and see what happens.’
The report says Metcalf then ‘grabbed Anthony to tell him to move and Anthony pulled out … a black knife and stabbed Austin once in the chest.’
Metcalf died in the arms of his twin brother Hunter. The two are pictured together
Police have denied a false post that claimed Metcalf died from a drug overdose
Anthony reportedly ran away before being arrested by responding officers.
He had apparently told a school resource officer: ‘I was protecting myself,’ and, ‘He put his hands on me.’
Anthony also asked an officer if what he did could be considered self-defense and asked whether the victim was going to be OK, per police.
He was charged with murder and faces 5 to 99 years in prison if convicted.
Metcalf’s twin brother, Hunter, was by his side and held him in his arms as he died.
‘I tried to whip around as fast as I could,’ a heartbroken Hunter told WFAA. ‘I looked at my brother and I’m not going to talk about the rest. I tried to help him.’
Hunter then called his parents, who rushed to Austin’s side but found him not breathing.
‘I could see all the blood, and I saw where the wound was, and I was very concerned, so I had to find his brother, and we rushed to the hospital. And we prayed, and it’s God’s plan, I don’t understand it, but they weren’t able to save him. This is murder,’ his father, Jeff Metcalf, said.
Metcalf told the Dallas Morning News of seeing his son’s body with a hole in it and described the youngster’s cold skin covered with blood.
After the incident occurred, the meet was suspended, the stadium was ‘immediately secured’, and students were sent back to their home campuses, according to Frisco officials.
Metcalf was a star football player Frisco’s Memorial High School and planned to be a college athlete
Anthony reportedly told cops that he acted after Metcalf touched him in a confrontation. He is also a star athlete at his high school
Metcalf, a junior, was a star football player at Frisco’s Memorial High School and planned to be a college athlete. A GoFundMe set up for him says he was recently voted Most Valuable Player and had a 4.0 GPA at school.
Anthony, a senior, is also a star for the Centennial high school football team.
His attorney, Deric Walpole spoke to local NBC affiliate KXAS-TV outside the Colin County Jail in McKinney Texas on Friday and revealed that Anthony is claiming self-defense in the alleged murder.
‘I know that my client said it was self-defense. I don’t have any reason to disbelieve that, but I need to develop facts, talk to people, and figure out what’s going on before I make any statements about what I think happened,’ Walpole said.
‘I don’t have any reason to think it wasn’t self-defense at this time.’
Walpole added that he only had a few hours to speak with Anthony but confirmed he’d be requesting a bond hearing next week.
