The family of Karmelo Anthony is seeking additional donations following his murder indictment in the death of Austin Metcalf at a Texas track event. After initially raising over $500,000 through a GiveSendGo fundraiser, the family has now increased their funding request to $1.4 million.
The case stems from an April 2, 2025 incident in Frisco, Texas, where Anthony admittedly stabbed Metcalf during a school track meet. Despite Anthony’s confession, a progressive judge granted him reduced bail and house arrest privileges. The court later permitted Anthony to relocate to an undisclosed location outside of Texas until his trial, an unusual allowance.
While Anthony’s defense claims self-defense, journalists who viewed unreleased video footage of the incident have reported no visible evidence of Metcalf attacking Anthony. Following the video review, a Grand Jury moved forward with a murder indictment.
Several key facts have emerged about the incident: Anthony
acknowledged bringing a deadly weapon to the school event, entering another team’s tent uninvited, and refusing to leave when asked. Witnesses confirm these details, and reports indicate Metcalf was unarmed during the confrontation.
The case has taken on racial overtones, with many donors to the initial fundraiser leaving messages supporting Anthony based on racial grounds, characterizing the incident as both self-defense and retribution against white people. The Anthony family cited alleged threats as justification for their relocation funding request.
Dominique Alexander, representing the family through the Next Generation Action Network (NGAN), has emphasized the racial aspects of the case. He stated, “This case is yet another example of what it means to be Black in America, where even our self-defense is questioned, scrutinized and politicized.” Alexander called for supporters to join in “the fight against white supremacy” while defending the family against what he termed racist attacks.
The Anthony family has maintained a significant media presence, transforming the case into a public spectacle. They have shown no apparent remorse for Metcalf’s death, instead focusing on racial narratives surrounding the incident.
Legal experts note that under Texas law, deadly force can only be justified when there is reasonable fear of mortal harm. The current evidence, including Anthony’s own admissions and witness accounts, appears to contradict claims of self-defense.
The case highlights growing concerns about the politicization of criminal justice along racial lines. Critics argue that attempts to frame minority criminal incidents as products of systemic inequality, rather than individual accountability, could have dangerous societal implications.
This approach risks creating a two-tiered justice system where criminal behavior might be excused based on racial background or historical grievances. Such a pattern could not only encourage similar criminal acts but might also lead to vigilante justice if communities lose faith in the legal system’s ability to deliver equal treatment under the law.
The expanded fundraising effort comes as the case moves toward trial, with the murder indictment suggesting prosecutors have gathered sufficient evidence to pursue serious charges against Anthony. The outcome of this case could have significant implications for how similar incidents are handled in the future and may influence public discourse on race and criminal justice.