Texas teen charged in fatal stabbing of track athlete raises nearly $300K

The family of the Texas teenager charged with murder in the deadly stabbing of a fellow teen track athlete has brought in close to $300,000 in donations, though what the money will be used for is unclear.

A GiveSendGo fundraising page for Karmelo Anthony, the 17-year-old suspect, has raised more than $285,000 in the week after the attack in Frisco. It has a goal of bringing in $350,000.

The page calls itself the “Help Karmelo Official Fund,” but doesn’t specify how the money will be spent. The fundraiser description only says it’s the “support fund for Karmelo and his family during this challenging and difficult time.”

Karmelo is accused of killing Austin Metcalf, 17, in an April 2 scuffle at Memorial High School.

He is charged with first-degree murder and has been jailed on a $1 million bond.

“The narrative being spread is false, unjust, and harmful,” a message from the family reads on the page. “As a family of faith, we are deeply grateful for all of your support during this trying period. Your prayers and assistance mean more to us now more than ever.”

The case has captured national attention, largely because Austin was White and the suspect is Black.

An arrest report said the stabbing occurred inside a track team’s tent around 10 a.m.

Witnesses, according to police, said Austin told Karmelo to get out of the tent.

The report said Karmelo reached inside his bag and told the victim, “Touch me and see what happens.”

“No one really thought Anthony really had any weapons in his bag,” the police report said. “Austin proceeded to touch Anthony and then Anthony told Austin to punch him and see what happens.”

Austin grabbed Karmelo to move him, which is when the 17-year-old suspect “stabbed Austin once in the chest and then ran away,” the report states.

Police said Karmelo was arrested at the scene and Austin died at a hospital a short time later. A bloody knife was recovered in the bleachers.

According to the arrest report, when an officer referred to Karmelo as the “alleged suspect” during a discussion with another officer, Karmelo responded, “I’m not alleged, I did it.”

The report said Karmelo began crying as he was led to a police cruiser, saying “He put his hands on me, I told him not to.”