Texas Teenager Karmelo Anthony has been charged with first-degree murder in connection with the stabbing death of a 17-year-old at a high school track meet in April.
Anthony, also 17, was indicted by a grand jury Tuesday for allegedly killing Austin Metcalf after a dispute over a seat at the University Interscholastic League’s District 11-5A championship on April 2.
“For weeks, my team has been presenting evidence to the grand jury. Today, I summarized that evidence, and I asked the Grand Jury to return a first-degree murder indictment against Karmelo Anthony and — which they did,” Collin County District Attorney Greg Willis said in a press conference Tuesday.
The case drew outrage after Anthony was freed on a $250,000 bond after the alleged stabbing, living it up with his family in a $900,000 home in a luxurious gated community of Richwoods in Frisco, Texas, where rent is an estimated $3,500 per month.
A neighbor said he even bought a new car after the alleged attack.
Still, he had convinced a judge to lower his bond from $1 million, citing financial hardship.
Anthony told cops he was acting in self-defense, with his family claiming “the narrative being spread is false, unjust, and harmful” on a GiveSendGo.com fundraiser page for their legal fees — which has raised more than $530,000.
Soon after the indictment was handed down, Anthony’s lawyer, Mike Howard, put out a video message reiterating the claim that his client’s alleged actions were in self-defense.
“We are confident that when all the facts are presented and the full story is heard,” he said, “the jury will reach the right conclusion and justice will be done.”
The DA’s office said Anthony could face life in prison if convicted.
