Above image is of Jeff Metcalf and son Austin Metcalf.
Credit : CBS Texas/YouTube; Austin Metcalf/X
Frisco, Texas (May 25, 2025) – The father of 17-year-old Austin Metcalf, who was fatally stabbed at a high-school track meet in early April, is publicly contesting his son’s alleged killer, 18-year-old Karmelo Anthony, being allowed to graduate and receive his diploma.
Karmelo Anthony. Credit : Frisco Police Dept.
- Diploma vs. Ceremony: Frisco Independent School District officials confirmed Anthony has met academic requirements and will receive his diploma, but will be barred from walking in the graduation ceremony People.com.
- Parental Outcry: Jeff Metcalf has filed a formal complaint with the Texas Education Agency, arguing it’s inappropriate for Anthony to graduate given the pending first-degree murder charge People.com.
- Incident Details: On April 2, Anthony allegedly stabbed Austin during an argument over seating at Kuykendall Stadium. Anthony’s attorney insists it was self-defense; police say Anthony removed a knife from his backpack and stabbed the teen People.com.
- Community Tensions: The case has drawn protests from a group called Protect White Americans and counter-rallies from Austin’s supporters, intensifying local divisions People.com.
What’s Next
- Legal Proceedings: Anthony remains out on bond, which was reduced from $1 million to $250,000. His murder trial date has yet to be set.
- District Review: The Texas Education Agency will review Metcalf’s complaint; the school district maintains it followed state rules barring ceremony participation but not diploma conferral.
- Public Reaction: Families and community members are watching closely as Frisco ISD balances student rights, criminal allegations, and parental concerns.
Why It Matters
This controversy highlights the tension between educational policy and criminal justice in school settings: how districts handle students accused of serious crimes—and how communities grapple with fairness, safety, and accountability.
Sources: PEOPLE (May 24, 2025) People.com.
