A judge has lowered the bond for the 17-year-old murder suspect and granted his release. Attorneys involved in the case shared their insights following the ruling.
On Monday, Collin County Judge Angela Tucker reduced Karmelo Anthony’s bond from $1 million to $250,000. This came after police arrested him for the fatal stabbing of Austin Metcalf at a UIL District 11-5A track meet on April 2. The ruling quickly sparked reactions online, with many people sharing their views on the case.
A netizen’s comment following Collin County Judge Angela Tucker’s decision about the fate of Karmelo Anthony | Source: Facebook/WFAA
In addition to the bond reduction, the judge imposed strict conditions for Karmelo’s release, including house arrest, electronic monitoring, and a requirement for court approval before any travel.
As reported by Working for All Alike (WFAA), defense attorney Mike Howard called the judge’s decision “fair” in a press conference, stating, “Bond, as the judge said, is not supposed to be an instrument of oppression, it’s not supposed to keep people in jail, it’s not supposed to punish.”
Mike explained that a bond is meant to ensure the defendant appears in court, follows all conditions, and does not pose a threat to the public. He said the judge imposed reasonable measures that protect both Karmelo’s family and the community.
The judge also cited several factors in her ruling, including Karmelo’s age, lack of criminal history, U.S. citizenship, and strong ties to the community. In court, Karmelo appeared in a yellow jumpsuit as his father testified that the family could not access over $400,000 raised through a GiveSendGo campaign.
Karmelo Anthony steps out of the Collin County Detention Facility after posting bond, following a judge’s decision to reduce it to $250,000 | Karmelo Anthony and his legal team leave the court after his bond was reduced | Source: YouTube/Wfaa8
Karmelo’s father said the financial burden of relocating and supporting the family made the original $1 million bond impossible to meet. Prosecutors argued that the family had the resources to pay the full amount. However, the judge disagreed and set the reduced bond with strict conditions.
The courtroom was filled with members of both families. Austin’s relatives — including his mother, father, aunt, and grandfather — sat quietly during the hearing, with his mother wearing a gold ribbon and a No. 11 pin in honor of her son. Karmelo’s supporters, including roughly ten people, were also present.
Karmelo Anthony leaves the Collin County Detention Facility alongside members of his legal team after being released on a reduced bond | Karmelo Anthony and his legal team leave the court after his bond was reduced | Source: YouTube/Wfaa8
Meanwhile, Collin County District Attorney Greg Willis said the judge has made her ruling, and the prosecution will continue reviewing evidence as the investigation proceeds. “We will go where the facts lead us,” he stated.
The judge’s decision has sparked intense reactions online. “YESSSSS !!!!! Innocent until proven guilty !!!” a netizen wrote. Another aked, “Why? The other boy will never be able to go home.” One added, “Look at his smirk. 😏 he’s still guilty no mater what. Everyone knows he’s a killer [sic].”
Some expressed outrage, arguing that the suspect did not deserve to be released. One person opined that if the roles had been reversed, the public reaction would have been far more severe, highlighting perceived inequality in the justice system.
Another voiced concern for the victim’s family and pointed to an earlier altercation involving the suspect, reportedly handled internally by Frisco ISD, as a missed opportunity for intervention.
Karmelo Anthony is escorted by his companions as reporters approach after his release | Source: YouTube/fox4news
Several reactions also focused on systemic failures, with blame directed at parents, school officials, and students for not doing enough to prevent such incidents.
Others supported the bond reduction. One individual believed the original amount was “super unreasonable and unacceptable” compared to similar cases and hoped the teen would receive counseling and support. Another emphasized the importance of mental health care before trial and offered sympathy to both families involved.
The Next Generation Action Network (NGAN), which previously described the ruling as “a much-needed window of relief,” also issued an additional statement on social media. The group confirmed it is now working with Karmelo’s family to process the bond and thanked supporters for their overwhelming response.
NGAN emphasized this as only the beginning of a long legal journey, urging continued fundraising support and pledging to stand firm in defense of Karmelo’s rights. The organization framed the moment as an example of justice in action and reaffirmed its broader advocacy for civil and human rights.
Shortly after the hearing, Austin’s father, Jeff Metcalf, shared a post on Facebook that Halo Pizzeria would host a community fundraiser on April 14 in honor of his son. The event is intended to help Austin’s mother, Meghan, and his twin brother, Hunter, with funeral costs, legal fees, and other personal expenses.
The restaurant pledged to donate 25% of its sales that day to the family while encouraging a respectful, united atmosphere. Staff emphasized that the event would focus solely on supporting the Metcalfs, and not on division or controversy.
The bond reduction followed earlier reports surrounding the murder, including Karmelo’s admission to the crime during his initial encounter with police.
Karmelo directly admitted to the police that he was responsible for the fatal stabbing of Austin, a Memorial High School student. According to an arrest affidavit obtained by NBC 5 Dallas–Fort Worth (DFW), when officers referred to him as the “alleged suspect,” Karmelo, a student at Centennial High School, responded with, “I’m not alleged, I did it.”
The affidavit detailed Karmelo claiming he acted in self-defense, telling a school resource officer on the scene, “I was protecting myself,” and “He put his hands on me.” Authorities said he also asked officers whether what happened could be considered self-defense and whether the victim would be okay.
Karmelo’s admission came shortly after the incident, which occurred around 10 a.m. on April 2, during a high school track meet at Kuykendall Stadium. Karmelo had taken shelter under a pop-up tent belonging to another school as rain began to fall.
When he was asked to move, an altercation broke out between him and Austin, 17. A witness told police that Karmelo unzipped his bag, reached inside, and warned Austin, “Touch me and see what happens.” Moments later, Austin allegedly grabbed Karmelo, who then pulled out a black knife and stabbed him once in the chest.
A school resource officer from nearby Staley Middle School was the first to respond. Austin suffered a fatal wound to the heart. His father, Jeff, said his son died in the arms of his twin brother, Hunter.
“They were twins, identical twins, and his brother was holding on to him, trying to make it stop bleeding, and he died in his brother’s arms,” he recalled.
He further explained that he rushed to the scene after learning about the stabbing. When he arrived, he found Austin on a gurney and was told his son wasn’t breathing. He described seeing a large amount of blood and the location of the wound. Deeply concerned, he searched for Hunter, and the two went together to the hospital.
There, the family prayed as doctors attempted to save his son’s life. Despite their efforts, Austin could not be revived. His father described the loss as part of “God’s plan,” though he said he didn’t understand it and called what happened “murder.”
Austin’s mother, Meghan, recalled rushing to the hospital as soon as Hunter called her. “My son is not here anymore, and I don’t understand it,” she said. “He was the most amazing kid. So smart. He had college football guys looking at him to play in college. His goal was to play in college.”
Hunter remembered reacting immediately when the incident happened. He turned quickly to his brother and, though visibly emotional, chose not to describe the full scene. He shared that he did everything he could to help Austin in those critical moments.
Hunter said Austin “did everything” for their family. “As a linebacker, he was a stud, and I always tried to fill those shoes and play with him. I had a blast my whole life playing sports with him,” he remarked.
Although Austin was only four minutes older, Hunter said he always looked up to him, adding, “He was a big brother even though we’re the same age.”
Meghan shared the emotional weight of losing her son and spoke about how she and her family intend to carry his memory forward. “We just want to make sure that everybody knows how much Austin is still going to be in our lives as far as our memories and our hearts forever. It’s going to be really hard,” she explained.
In a joint statement released on April 4, Friday, Meghan and Hunter thanked the community for its overwhelming support. They said they would leave the investigation in the hands of detectives while focusing on commemorating Austin’s life and legacy.
The family also launched a GoFundMe campaign, titled “Honoring Austin Metcalf: Help His Family Heal,” where Austin’s dad, described him as a driven student-athlete with a 4.0 GPA and a deep passion for football.
“We will all remember him for the way he impacted others’ lives. I love you forever, son. It’s not goodbye, it’s see you later. God will take care of us till we meet again. RIP. Love, Dad,” Jeff wrote. The campaign has raised $304,914 as of this writing.
On the day after the stabbing, Memorial High School paused during second period to honor Austin, as the community continued to rally around his grieving family.
Karmelo is currently charged with murder and remains in custody at the Collin County Jail on a $1 million bond. His attorneys Billy Clark and Kim T. Cole, released their first public statement on April 7, Monday, expressing condolences to the Metcalf family and emphasizing Karmelo’s right to due process.
“Karmelo and the entire Anthony family are sincerely saddened that a life was lost,” they said. “We are committed to ensuring that Karmelo’s rights are indeed protected throughout each phase of the criminal justice system.”
They confirmed plans to work with the Collin County District Attorney’s Office to seek a reduction of the bond and a re-evaluation of the charge. The attorneys also noted that Karmelo told police he acted in self-defense and asked whether the incident could be considered as such.
“This will certainly be a long road ahead and during this challenging time, we ask for prayers for both families and we ask for your patience and respect for the legal process as we seek the truth,” the lawyers stated.
Shortly after the incident, Karmelo’s family launched their own GiveSendGo campaign, titled “Help Karmelo Official Fund.” The page describes the circulating narrative as “false, unjust, and harmful,” and thanks supporters for their prayers and donations.
As of this writing, the fundraiser has collected $267,972 toward its $300,000 goal.
One donor, Stephanie Crutchfield, owner and CEO of multiple businesses, including Cutting Edge Tax Software and Crutchfield Taxes & Financial Solutions, contributed $1,000 and shared a public message of support, “Let’s get this baby home. I have a young black son as well, and I live in Collin County.
She added, “This baby was bullied and was defending himself, I know it’s [sic] more to this story. I’m praying for you and your family. Please let me know how else I can help.”
If convicted of murder, Karmelo reportedly faces a potential sentence of five to 99 years in prison under Texas law.
