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Karmelo Anthony’s family has spoken out following his being indicted for the fatal stabbing of 17-year-old Austin Metcalf at a high school track meet in April.
According to Fox News, Karmelo Anthony was indicted for first-degree murder by a grand jury on Tuesday, June 24. Collin County District Attorney Greg Willis reportedly issued a statement on the court’s decision.
“For weeks, my team has been presenting evidence to the grand jury. Today, I summarized that evidence, and I asked the Grand Jury to return a first-degree murder indictment against Karmelo Anthony which they did. With that indictment, the case now moves formally into the court system. From this point forward, well continue doing our part fully and fairly to pursue justice under the law. The trial schedule will be set by the court. But when the time comes, well be ready,” Willis reportedly explained.
Per CBS News, a trial judge will now be assigned to the case. Additionally, a first appearance court date will be set for sometime within the next few weeks or months.
Per the outlet, Jeff Metcalf shared a statement reacting to the grand jury’s decision to indict Anthony.
“I am pleased that we are moving forward. With the first-degree murder indictment, it now goes into the court system. I fully believe that justice will be served for Austin Metcalf. I look forward to the forthcoming trial. But it will never bring my son back,” he stated.
Additionally, Jeff Metcalf shared a brief statement on Facebook.
Furthermore, Mike Howard, Anthony’s lawyer, reportedly posted a video statement in reaction to the decision.
“Karmelo and his family are confident in the justice system and the people of Collin County to be fair and impartial. Of course, Karmelo looks forward to his day in court,” he reportedly said in part, per CBS News. “Because it’s only in a trial that the full story can be heard, and that impartial justice can be done. We expect that when the full story is heard, the prosecution will not be able to rule out the reasonable doubt that Karmelo Anthony may have acted in self-defense.”
In addition, Anthony’s family took to GiveSendGo on Wednesday, June 25, to react to the indictment.
“… Today, we received the official news that the Collin County District Attorney has indicted our son… This is a moment we hoped we would never face, yet one weve been preparing for throughout these long and painful months. Through it all, you our community have been our strength… Now, as the legal process moves forward toward trial, we enter an even more intense phase one that will demand everything from us emotionally, financially, and spiritually… These funds are being used to cover essential and urgent needs that have arisen as a result of this tragic situation… While legal expenses are a significant part of this fund, they are only one part. Our family a loving, God-fearing family is simply seeking safety, justice, and peace in these trying times,” the family stated in part, discussing how the public can assist through this time.
Meanwhile, social media users reacted to the decision in The Shade Room’s comment section.
As The Shade Room previously reported, the fatal stabbing occurred on April 2 during a track meet at Kuykendall Stadium. Anthony and Metcalf were reportedly involved in an altercation that left Metcalf deceased. Ultimately, Anthony was arrested and charged with first-degree murder despite his alleging the stabbing was due to self-defense. To note, Austin Metcalf’s twin brother, Hunter, was reportedly present at the meet, and subsequently, rumors swirled about whether he and Austin bullied Anthony prior to the incident.
Later that month, Anthony’s bond was reduced from $1 million to $250,000. Additionally, he was released from jail and placed on house arrest, per The Shade Room. Furthermore, in the weeks that followed, the Anthony family held a press conference sharing their reaction to the tragedy and how their family has been “under attack” since.
