In the early hours of April 2, 2025, a vibrant high school track meet at David Kuykendall Stadium in Frisco, Texas, turned into a scene of unimaginable tragedy. Seventeen-year-old Austin Metcalf, a junior at Frisco Memorial High School, lay dying in the arms of his twin brother, Hunter, after a fatal stabbing that has left the tight-knit community reeling. What began as a day of competition and camaraderie ended with one young life lost and another forever altered, as 17-year-old Karmelo Anthony, a student from Frisco Centennial High School, now faces a first-degree murder charge.
The incident unfolded around 10 a.m. during the District 11-5A track and field championships, an event that brought together students from multiple schools in the Frisco Independent School District. According to witnesses, the altercation began under the Memorial High School tent in the stadium bleachers, where athletes had gathered during a weather delay caused by rain. Austin, a standout athlete known for his dedication to football and track, reportedly asked Karmelo to leave the tent, as it was designated for Memorial students only. What followed was a rapid escalation that no one could have anticipated. Witnesses recall Karmelo reaching into his bag, issuing a warning to Austin—“Touch me and see what happens”—before the situation turned violent. Austin either pushed or grabbed Karmelo in an attempt to move him, and in an instant, Karmelo allegedly drew a black knife and stabbed Austin once in the chest. As Austin collapsed, Karmelo fled the scene, leaving chaos in his wake.
Frisco Police Department officers, including School Resource Officer Eduardo Cortez, responded swiftly to multiple 911 calls flooding dispatch lines. Upon arriving, they found Austin gravely wounded, with bystanders—including his twin brother—desperately trying to aid him. Despite heroic efforts by police and fire personnel, who performed CPR and administered blood in a frantic attempt to save his life, Austin was pronounced dead at a nearby hospital at 10:53 a.m. Meanwhile, Officer Cortez, guided by witness accounts, located Karmelo near the stadium. Described as a Black male wearing a gray hoodie and blue sweatpants, Karmelo made no attempt to resist as he was approached. In an unsolicited statement that stunned the officer, he said, “I was protecting myself,” before raising his hands and submitting to a pat-down. No weapon was found on him at the time, though a bloody knife was later recovered from the bleachers, believed to have been discarded as he fled.
As Karmelo was escorted to a patrol vehicle, his demeanor shifted from calm to distraught. “He put his hands on me, I told him not to,” he repeated, his voice breaking with emotion. Later, seated in the back of the squad car, he asked officers if Austin would be okay and whether his actions could be considered self-defense. His statements, captured in the official arrest report, paint a picture of a young man grappling with the gravity of what had occurred. At the Frisco Police Department Jail, where he was processed and issued standard jail clothing, officers noted a wound on one of his fingers—evidence meticulously photographed as part of the investigation that will determine the validity of his self-defense claim.
Austin Metcalf was more than just a statistic in this tragedy. A junior with a 4.0 GPA, he was the MVP of Memorial High’s football team and a beloved figure among peers and family. His father, Jeff Metcalf, described him as a compassionate soul who loved hunting trips with his dad and twin brother. Hunter, who witnessed the stabbing, held Austin as he took his final breaths, a moment that has left an indelible scar on the family. “I looked at him, his eyes—he was gone,” Jeff recounted, his voice heavy with grief. The Metcalf family’s loss has resonated deeply, with a GoFundMe launched to cover funeral expenses reflecting an outpouring of support from a community struggling to make sense of the violence.
Karmelo Anthony, now held in Collin County Jail on a $1 million bond, was a football player at Centennial High with college offers on the horizon. His father has publicly defended him, insisting his son is not the monster some portray him to be, though the legal road ahead is steep. Charged with first-degree murder, Karmelo faces a potential sentence of 5 to 99 years if convicted. The Frisco Police Department continues its meticulous investigation, piecing together witness testimonies, physical evidence, and Karmelo’s own words to uncover the full truth of that fateful morning.
The aftermath has left Frisco grappling with questions about safety, youth violence, and the fragility of life. Memorial High School opened its doors the following day to mourn Austin, offering counselors to students and staff. The track meet, postponed to a later date, serves as a somber reminder of a day that began with promise but ended in heartbreak. For the Metcalf family, forgiveness mingles with sorrow—Jeff has said he harbors no hatred for Karmelo, placing his faith in a higher power. Yet for a community forever changed, the echoes of April 2, 2025, will linger, a call for compassion and understanding in the face of unspeakable loss.