The father of slain 17-year-old Austin Metcalf crashed a press conference held by the family of his son’s accused killer before he was ultimately given the boot by Dallas police Thursday.
Jeff Metcalf, whose son was stabbed to death after he and 17-year-old Karmelo Anthony got into an argument at a track meet in Frisco earlier this month, made his presence known — delaying the event and leading to sharp criticism from a supporter of Anthony.
“The father being at this press conference … is a disrespect to the dignity of his son,” said Dominique Alexander, the leader of a local activist group, before Anthony’s parents broke their silence for the first time.
“That was disrespectful and just shows you all the character – he was not invited, he knows that it’s inappropriate to be near this family, but he did it,” the Next Generation Action Network president added once the press conference began — which was streamed by Fox 4.
Moments earlier, Dallas police escorted Jeff Metcalf from the premises, according to reports.
One video showed a few officers standing around the grieving father as he left without incident. He reportedly did not say a word to the media during his brief appearance.
Anthony is facing a first-degree murder charge after police said he fatally knifed Metcalf, a football and track star, and left him to die in his twin brother’s arms at the athletic event on April 2.
The fatal confrontation at Frisco Memorial High School began when Metcalf reportedly asked Anthony to move out of his school’s tent during a rain delay, a police report states.
Anthony was in custody until this week after his bail was reduced and he was set free — but placed under house arrest.
His mother, Kala Hayes, said her family is “under attack” during the press conference.
“Whatever you think that happened between Karmelo and the Metcalf boys, my three younger children, my husband and I didn’t do anything to deserve to be threatened, harassed and lied about,” she said in prepared remarks with her husband by her side.
“The lies and the false accusations that have been said about us, especially over the past week, has been overwhelming,” Hayes said, claiming it has put her family in danger.
At one point, Hayes became overcome with emotion and spoke through tears.
The high-profile killing has flamed racial tensions because Metcalf was white and Anthony is black.
Anthony has claimed that he stabbed Metcalf in self-defense.
During the argument, Anthony allegedly told Metcalf to “touch me and see what happens,” before witnesses saw the victim grab or push Anthony, sparking the stabbing, according to a police report obtained by the Dallas News.
“I don’t know why we are being targeted and discriminated against before a fair trial,” Hayes said while expressing condolences to Metcalf’s family.
“Our son deserved the same rights under the law that everyone is afforded to.”
