The attorney for Karmelo Anthony, the 17-year-old accused of murdering football star Austin Metcalf at a Texas track meet, insists he doesn’t have “any reason” to think the killing “wasn’t in self defense” — and will request the teen’s bond be lowered from $1,000,000.
Anthony has been holed up in the Collin County Jail on the seven-digit bond since he was charged with fatally stabbing Metcalf, also 17, and leaving him to die in his twin brother’s arms during the athletic event in Frisco Wednesday morning.
After briefly meeting with the teenager for the first time on Friday afternoon, Anthony’s attorney Deric Walpole told NBC Dallas-Fort Worth that at this point in time he believes his client acted in self defense when he thrust a knife into Metcalf’s heart — which is what Anthony had allegedly told police during his arrest.
“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 told the outlet outside of the prison. “I don’t have any reason to think it wasn’t self defense at this time.”
Walpole also confirmed he had requested a hearing next week to lower Anthony’s bond, which could raise the chances of his pretrial release.
The stabbing was sparked when Metcalf, a Memorial High School junior, asked Anthony, a Centennial High School student, to move from underneath Memorial’s pop-up tent during a rain delay — and Anthony refused, according to an arrest report.
Anthony immediately unzipped a bag, reached inside and told Metcalf, “touch me and see what happens,” a witness told police.
Moments later, Metcalf “grabbed Anthony to tell him to move and Anthony pulled out … a black knife and stabbed Austin once in the chest,” police said.
Metcalf’s twin brother, Hunter, rushed to Austin’s aid but couldn’t save him.
“I put my hand on [his chest], tried to make [the bleeding] stop, and I grabbed his head and I looked in his eyes. I just saw his soul leave. And it took my soul, too,” Hunter told Fox News in an emotional interview the following day.
Anthony ran away but was quickly arrested.
“I’m not alleged, I did it,” 17-year-old Karmelo Anthony confessed to police as he was being taken into custody, according to the arrest report.
“I was protecting myself,” Anthony allegedly told cops. “He put his hands on me.”
Anthony’s father told The Post this week that his son was “provoked.”
“He was not the aggressor. He was not the one who started it,” Andrew Anthony said.
“Everyone has already made their assumptions about my son, but he’s not what they’re making him out to be,” Andrew Anthony said, adding that his son is an “A-student” who works two jobs.
Anthony’s stepmother, Kala Hayes, told The Post Saturday that the family had hired a PR team but declined to comment further.
Anthony’s attorney could not be reached for comment Saturday.
