Shocking funds raised after track meet incident exposed.
Donations are flooding in for both sides of a Texas tragedy that left 17-year-old Austin Metcalf dead and another teen behind bars for murder.
Tragic incident profiled.
According to the arrest affidavit, the deadly encounter began over something as simple as turf.
Metcalf reportedly told Anthony to move from his track team’s tent during a meet last Wednesday.
Witnesses say Anthony refused and warned, “Touch me and see what happens.”
When Metcalf tried to physically move him, Anthony allegedly unzipped a bag, pulled out a knife, and stabbed him in the chest.
The blade pierced Austin’s heart—he collapsed in the arms of his identical twin brother, Hunter, before help could arrive.
But before the stabbing, both teens were practically strangers—no history, no feud, no real connection.
Austin Metcalf was a standout athlete, described by coaches as a quiet leader and model student.
His twin brother and he had been inseparable since birth—on and off the field.
He was a junior linebacker and track team member who had dreams of playing college football.
In contrast, Anthony had flown under the radar—academically solid, working jobs, not involved in sports, and not previously known to police.
Family’s grief highlighted.
“I looked in his eyes,” Hunter told Fox News in a gut-wrenching interview. “I just saw his soul leave. And it took my soul, too.”
Their father, Jeff, rushed to the scene and found his son dying, soaked in blood.
He later said goodbye at the hospital, kissing Austin’s forehead and running his fingers through his hair one final time.
Anthony’s arrest detailed.
Karmelo Anthony was arrested immediately after the stabbing and reportedly confessed.
“I’m not alleged, I did it,” he told officers, according to the affidavit. “I was protecting myself. He put his hands on me.”
His father has since defended his son publicly, telling the New York Post that Karmelo is “a good kid” with a 3.7 GPA and two jobs.
“He was not the aggressor,” he said. “I feel bad for the other family. Words can’t explain the pain on both sides.”
Anthony’s attorney, Deric Walpole, is now pushing for a reduced bond, down from $1 million.
“I know my client said it was self-defense,” Walpole stated. “I don’t have any reason to disbelieve that.”
He added that more investigation is needed before drawing conclusions about what actually happened.
Bombshell fundraiser after track meet scandal revealed.
A GoFundMe for Austin, a beloved high school football star, has raked in nearly $250,000 as of this writing.
Meanwhile, the accused, 17-year-old Karmelo Anthony, has seen his own legal defense fund surge past $65,000.
His campaign is hosted on GiveSendGo, a crowdfunding site known for supporting controversial defendants.
That includes Daniel Penny, the man at the center of the NYC subway chokehold death that gripped headlines last year.
The campaign claims Anthony acted in self-defense and that “the narrative being spread is false, unjust, and harmful.”
“As a family of faith, we are deeply grateful for your support,” the fundraiser continues, appealing to donors’ sense of justice.
By Sunday morning, more than 1,600 people had chipped in for Anthony’s legal battle.
Social media is split, with some commenters alleging the teen was bullied and pushed to a breaking point.
“This baby was bullied and was defending himself,” one donor wrote. “I know it’s more to this story.”
Community continues to mourn.
While a community mourns one teen’s death, another community is rallying behind the teen accused of causing it.
As money continues pouring in for both sides, one thing’s clear—this isn’t just a tragedy; it’s a national conversation waiting to explode.