The father of 17-year-old Karmelo Anthony has spoken out after his son was arrested over the alleged stabbing of fellow 17-year-old Austin Metcalf at a track meet in Texas.
Anthony and Metcalf were both at the track event at Kuykendall Stadium in Frisco, Texas on Wednesday (April 2) when an altercation broke out, with the Frisco Police Department saying the fight 'between two students resulted in one stabbing the other'.
Metcalf's twin brother, Hunter, was also at the meet and tried to save his brother, but the teenager tragically died as a result of his injuries.
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In the wake of the altercation, police arrested Anthony, a student at Frisco Centennial High School, and charged him with first-degree murder. Anthony was taken into custody, with no bond reported at the time of writing (April 4).
Anthony's father, Andrew Anthony, has now spoken out in defence of his son, describing him as a 'good kid' who he believes was provoked.
Speaking to The New York Post, Andrew said: “Everyone has already made their assumptions about my son, but he’s not what they’re making him out to be. He’s a good kid. He works two jobs. He’s an A student, has a 3.7 GPA."
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Andrew went on to claim that Anthony 'was not the aggressor' in the incident that led to Metcalf's death, adding: "He was not the one who started it."
“I feel bad for the other parents and family, and words can’t explain how both [families] have been affected by this tragedy," the father added.
In a separate interview with WFAA, Hunter Metcalf said he 'didn't see the stab', but described the situation as 'senseless'.
"I don't know why a person would do that to someone, just over that little argument," he said.
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Hunter claimed the altercation began after his brother asked Anthony to leave their school's tent at the meet. The New York Post reported that the fight took place over 'a seat' at the stadium.
"I tried to help him," Hunter said of his brother, adding that medics had to 'yank' him off Metcalf as he was loaded into the ambulance.
Metcalf, an 11th grader at Frisco Memorial High School, has been described by his mom, Meghan Metcalf, as the 'most amazing kid'.
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"So smart. He had college football guys looking at him to play in college. His goal was to play in college," she told WFAA.
The Frisco Independent School District released a statement after the meet in which it described the incident as an 'unprecedented situation' ,
"Frisco ISD shares in the grief of everyone impacted by this heartbreaking loss, and we extend our deepest sympathies to the victim's family, students, staff, and our community during this difficult time," the district said.
Emily Brown