The controversy surrounding Karmelo Anthony and his family is increasing in the weeks following the allegations that the 17-year-old high schooler stabbed Austin Metcalf, also 17, to death at a track meet. But there is a lot of misinformation surrounding the story, much of it posted to social media by far-right trolls, or white supremacists out to convict Anthony without a trial and vilify his family. Other posts claim that the incident was racially charged in nature and that Anthony was the victim of racist taunting.

But despite the confusion, there are confirmed facts about the case. Here is what we know:

  • The fatal stabbing took place on April 2 at the University Interscholastic League’s District 11-5A track championship in Frisco, Tex., a Dallas suburb. Anthony was arrested at the event and and charged with the murder of Austin Metcalf, also 17. According to a police report, an officer responding to a stabbing incident at David Kuykendall Stadium in Frisco was directed to the scene where he found Anthony, who complied with orders and was arrested without incident.
  • Police say the incident spurred from an altercation between two individuals who were later identified as Anthony and Metcalf.
  • When he was arrested, according to a statement from two arresting officers, Anthony admitted to the stabbing and said that he had done it in self defense, saying that Metcalf had put his hands on him. 
  • Witnesses speaking to police said that the altercation between the two teens began when Metcalf and his twin brother Hunter saw Anthony sitting under the Memorial High School pop-up tent at the meet. Anthony is a student at Centennial High School. Both schools are located in Frisco, Tex. 
  • At the time it was raining heavily and students had began to seek shelter under the Memorial tent. Austin Metcalf allegedly told Anthony to leave. That is where witness accounts differ.
  • One witness claimed that Anthony grabbed his bag, reached inside and told Metcalf “touch me and see what happens.” Metcalf then proceeds to touch Anthony, who repeats the warning. When Metcalf grabs Anthony, the latter pulls out a black knife and stabs the victim once in the chest.
  • A second witness agreed that the teens were sitting on bleachers under the Memorial High tent, but said Metcalf told Anthony that since he did not go to Memorial, he had to leave. At first a verbal argument ensued, which led to Metcalf shoving Anthony. During the conflict, Anthony reached for his bag, took out the knife, fatally stabbed Metcalf, then left. 
  • After his arrest, Anthony was charged with first-degree murder and later released on $250,000 bond.

In the aftermath of the incident, social media agitators have tried to sway opinions about the case.

In one instance, an X (formerly Twitter) post purporting to be from Frisco, Tex., Police Chief David Shilson, falsely claiming that Metcalf “sucker punched” Anthony, beginning the altercation that led to the stabbing. Shilson later released a statement refuting that.

In another, a phony Facebook post claimed to be an autopsy report from the Collin County Medical Examiner saying that Metcalf overdosed on the drug ecstasy, when none had been released. It should be noted that Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg earlier this year announced the end of fact checking on the platform, relying instead on community notes much the same way X does.

Both teens’ families say they have been subject to doxxing, threats and other intimidation. Anthony’s family has said they have had to move because of the threats. At a press conference, Anthony’s mother, Kayla Hayes, said that her family has been “under attack” since the incident.

“Whatever you think happened between Karmelo and the Metcalf boys, my three younger children, my husband and I didn’t do anything to deserve to be threatened, harassed and lied about,” she said. She added that  private information about her family has been exposed and that allegations that donation money was used to purchase a new home are false.

For his part, Austin Metcalf’s father, Jeff has refuted chatter attempting to define the incident as racially charged. According to The Dallas Morning News, during a rally held by a group called Protect White Americans, he flatly trashed its efforts to frame the stabbing as an attack against white people. When the group accessed Metcalf over the phone, he told the rally, “you’re trying to create more race divide than bridging the gap. I do not condone anything you do.”

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