Why Was Successful Athlete Austin Metcalf Stabbed? – Police and Family Speak Out

At a packed high school track meet in Frisco, Texas, a seating dispute turned deadly, leaving one student dead and another charged with murder. What unfolded in mere seconds has now shaken an entire community, with grieving loved ones and officials left searching for answers.

During a routine district track and field event involving multiple Frisco high schools, tragedy struck shortly after 10 a.m. A high school student was fatally stabbed, an incident that has since been pieced together through eyewitness accounts, official reports, and family testimonies.

The shocking altercation, witnesses say, lasted less than 30 seconds. As investigators continue to gather statements, unanswered questions persist: What could have triggered such abrupt violence, and could it have been prevented? The details that follow paint a chilling picture of what transpired that morning.

The Fatal Altercation

On Wednesday, April 2, 2025, the bleachers at Kuykendall Stadium in Frisco, Texas, were filled with students competing in the 11-5A district track meet. The event brought together more than a hundred student-athletes from eight Frisco Independent School District high schools, including Memorial High School and Centennial High School.

Under the tent reserved for Memorial High athletes, an interaction began between Austin Metcalf, a junior at Memorial, and Karmelo Anthony, a 17-year-old student from Centennial. Witnesses told police that Karmelo, dressed in a Centennial tracksuit, sat in the wrong tent, and Austin told him to leave.

According to the police report, Karmelo opened his bag and said, "Touch me and see what happens." Statements from multiple students indicated that Austin either touched or attempted to move Karmelo. In the next moment, Karmelo allegedly pulled a knife from his bag and stabbed Austin once in the chest.

Witnesses said he then fled from the tent area. A black knife with blood on it was later recovered by officers in the bleachers. Coaches and certified athletic trainers responded immediately, performing CPR and administering blood while waiting for emergency services.

Austin was transported to a nearby hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 10:53 a.m. According to the official arrest report, the entire altercation, from the verbal exchange to the stabbing, lasted less than 30 seconds.

Police noted that more than 30 students and half a dozen coaches from five schools were listed as witnesses, many of whom provided statements on-site.

The Arrest and Suspect's Statements to Police

Minutes after the stabbing, a Frisco school resource officer located Karmelo near the stadium. He matched the descriptions provided by several student witnesses. According to the police report, officers noted blood on his left middle finger and ordered him to raise his hands. He complied.

Before officers asked any questions, Karmelo began making spontaneous statements. "I was protecting myself," he said. When one officer radioed that he had the alleged suspect, Karmelo reportedly responded, "I'm not alleged, I did it."

As he was walked to a patrol car, he added, "He put his hands on me. I told him not to." Witnesses at the scene described him as "crying hysterically." Officers described him as visibly shaken during the arrest. Once in the back seat of the squad car, Karmelo asked if the victim was "going to be OK."

He then asked officers if the stabbing could be considered "self-defense." Another officer reported that Karmelo appeared emotional throughout the interaction and repeated several of these statements without being prompted. He was transported to the Frisco City Jail and later transferred to the Collin County Jail.

The Family's Immediate Response

Austin's mother, Meagan Metcalf, was at work in Grapevine when she received a phone call from her son Hunter. "He was screaming that Austin had been stabbed," she said in a televised interview. She drove straight to the hospital and arrived before the ambulance.

"I saw them have him come out," she recalled. "He was on a lot of machines, and it didn't take long for them to come in to say that he had passed." Jeff Metcalf, Austin's father, said Hunter had witnessed the stabbing and tried to save his brother's life.

"[Hunter] was holding his hands on the hole trying to save his life," Jeff told CBS News Texas. "He told me, 'I looked at him, his eyes — he was gone, he wasn't breathing.'" According to Meagan, CPR was performed after Austin was unresponsive for about five minutes.

"They were able to revive him a little, but I think it was just,[..] too little too late," she said. In an interview, Austin's brother, Hunter Metcalf, also described what he saw.

"I whipped my head around, and then all of a sudden I see [sic] him running down the bleachers just grabbing his chest[…] I put my hand on there, 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," he stated.

The family released a written statement two days later, through a friend, thanking the community for their prayers and support. "We will entrust the detectives handling the investigation to determine the circumstances surrounding Austin's passing," the statement read.

"While our family, Hunter, and I prioritize commemorating and honoring Austin[…] we extend our gratitude to everyone who has supported us in numerous ways and helped sustain our family during this difficult time," it concluded.

Who Was Austin Metcalf?

Austin was a junior at Memorial High School in Frisco. Known for his academic and athletic achievements, he held a 4.0 GPA and served as MVP on the school's football team. His father, Jeff, said college football recruiters had already started looking at him.

"He was on the right track," Jeff stated. "He was loved by many. He was a leader." Meagan described her son as disciplined and ambitious. "He just wanted to play football. His life was going to the gym and working out and being a leader on his football team," she said. "He had such ambitions and a drive that is hard to find in a kid."

She also noted how deeply he was respected among his peers. "He's just such a good spirit and so many kids loved him," she added. Austin was also a twin. He and his brother Hunter were born two minutes apart and shared a bond their parents described as inseparable.

"I'm so worried about my son because he's gonna have to face this world alone now," Meagan said. "Because he had a brother that was with him the whole time and now he's gonna have to do it alone."

The family had spent the weekend before the incident on a hunting trip. It was a tradition they'd upheld since the boys were toddlers. Austin had just gotten his first hog.

Security Concerns and School District Scrutiny

In the days following Austin's death, questions emerged about how a student was able to bring a knife into a school-sanctioned event. Austin's father was among the first to raise concerns publicly. "He brought a knife to a track meet and he murdered my son by stabbing him in the heart," Jeff told reporters. "I am concerned with the lack of security."

Frisco Independent School District stated that five certified athletic trainers were present at Kuykendall Stadium at the time of the stabbing and were all involved in the emergency response. The district confirmed that Karmelo was at the event as a registered athlete.

However, district representatives declined to comment on whether security protocols included bag checks or metal detectors. A spokesperson for Frisco Independent School District said that once the incident occurred, the stadium was immediately secured, the meet was suspended, and all students were returned to their campuses.

Memorial High School paused classes the following morning during second period to acknowledge Austin's death and provided counselors on-site for students and staff. School security expert and former Dallas Independent School District Chief of Police Craig Miller, who is not connected to the case, talked to NBC 5.

He stated it would be unusual for a district like Frisco ISD to use metal detectors at a morning athletic event. He also noted that it would not be uncommon for there to be only a small number of school resource officers present. The district has not confirmed how many officers were on-site at the time of the stabbing.

The Legal Outlook for Karmelo Anthony

Karmelo was arrested at the scene and charged with murder, a first-degree felony under Texas law. He was initially booked into Frisco City Jail before being transferred to the Collin County Jail, where he remains in custody on a $1 million bond. As a 17-year-old, he will be tried as an adult.

His court-appointed attorney told ABC News that he had only recently taken on the case and needed time to review the evidence. Multiple statements made by Karmelo at the scene have been documented in the arrest report. Legal experts not affiliated with the case have questioned whether a self-defense argument will be viable.

Philip Linder, a criminal defense attorney and former prosecutor in North Texas, said the claim may face serious challenges. "If there is no evidence of the young man who died having a deadly weapon, or threatening to do serious harm to this kid, then he has no business using a knife," he told CBS News. "There will be no self-defense claim that he could really urge."

Russell Wilson, another attorney consulted by NBC 5, added that Texas law does not permit the use of deadly force in response to verbal provocation alone. He also noted that the setting — a public school athletic event — may weigh against any claim of justification.

Meanwhile, the Anthony family has not given media interviews. A statement posted to a crowdfunding page reads, "The narrative being spread is false, unjust, and harmful. As a family of faith, we are deeply grateful for all of your support during this trying period. Your prayers and assistance mean more to us now more than ever."

The fundraiser, titled Help Karmelo Official Fund, was launched to support the family as they prepare for legal proceedings.

Impact on Witnesses and the Frisco Community

Austin's death was witnessed by more than 30 students and half a dozen coaches, according to the Frisco police report. Many of those present were athletes competing in the track meet and staff members from at least five different Frisco ISD high schools. The stabbing occurred in broad daylight and left a lasting impression on all who saw it happen.

In the days that followed, mental health professionals emphasized the importance of addressing trauma among students and staff. Veronica Sites, a trained mental health crisis response counselor, told CBS News Texas that post-traumatic stress was likely. "There is a likelihood that there will be post-traumatic stress," she said.

Sites urged parents and educators to observe students for signs of distress. "Give them space to talk if they are open to visit," she added, "but also pay attention if they've lost their appetite or are having disruptions to sleeping."

Frisco ISD made crisis counselors available to students and staff and has continued to offer support throughout the district.

Community members have also rallied around the Metcalf family. A GoFundMe campaign raised over $200,000 within three days to assist with funeral costs and counseling services for Austin's twin brother, Hunter.

Residents, classmates, and teammates have also spoken publicly, expressing grief and disbelief. Kari Ordas, a co-owner of Halo Pizzeria in Frisco and a colleague of Meagan Metcalf, started an online fundraiser.

"There's [sic] no words to describe how heartbroken our family is over this," Kari told NBC 5. "It was just so unnecessary." She described Austin and Hunter as polite and hardworking, crediting their mother's dedication and work ethic.

Community members have continued to raise concerns online, questioning how a student could enter a school event with a weapon and whether existing safety protocols were sufficient. As the case moves forward, both legal and school administrative responses remain under scrutiny.