Suspect in fatal stabbing during Frisco high school track meet: ‘I did it’

NBC 5 obtained new information on Wednesday’s fatal stabbing during a high school track meet in Frisco.

The attack claimed the life of Austin Metcalf, 17, of Frisco.

Jeff Metcalf, the victim’s father, told NBC 5 on Wednesday that his son was stabbed in the heart and died in his twin brother’s arms.

An arrest warrant details the moment officers arrived on scene and what witnesses say happened leading up to the deadly confrontation.

According to one of the responding officers, the suspect, Karmelo Anthony, 17, admitted to stabbing Austin Metcalf, 17, claiming self-defense.

When an officer referred to Anthony as the alleged suspect, Anthony reportedly responded, “I’m not alleged, I did it.”

According to the arrest report, the tragic event began with the suspect sitting under another team’s pop-up tent as rain fell Wednesday morning and was told to move.

According to police, the two students from different high schools began fighting.

 A witness told police that Anthony unzipped a bag he had, reached in, telling the victim [Metcalf]: “Touch me and see what happens.”

A short time later, the report says, “Austin grabbed Anthony to tell him to move and Anthony pulled out … a black knife and stabbed Austin once in the chest.”

The murder suspect ran away before being arrested by responding officers.

The report says a school resource officer from nearby Staley Middle School was first on the scene at Kuykendall Stadium.

It says Anthony told the officer, “I was protecting myself,” and, “He put his hands on me.”

Anthony reportedly asked an officer on the scene if what happened could be considered self-defense and asked if the victim was going to be okay.

Anthony is charged with murder and is in the Collin County Jail on a $1 million bond.

If convicted, he faces 5 to 99 years in prison.

In a new mugshot released Thursday by the Collin County Sheriff’s Office, Anthony appeared less emotional than in the mugshot taken after his arrest on Wednesday.

Following the incident, Frisco police said Anthony, a Centennial High School student, stabbed Metcalf, a Memorial High School student, during an altercation.

Frisco police and the school district declined to provide new information or interviews on Thursday.

The district’s spokesperson did not respond to questions raised by many parents online, including what kind of security was on site for the morning track meet and whether athletes’ bags are checked.         

“Frisco ISD doesn’t use metal detectors in a school, so it would be unusual for them to have them in an athletic event of this nature,” said school security expert and former Dallas ISD Chief of Police Craig Miller.

Miller is not involved in the investigation but agreed to provide insight on school security.

He says it would also not be unusual for Frisco ISD to have a smaller presence of school resource officers on hand at competitions like Wednesday’s.

“When you hear about these cases, you’re struck with the tragic circumstances,” said defense attorney and former prosecutor Russell Wilson.

Wilson is also not involved in this case but agreed to give legal insight on the charge and potential impact of the location of the deadly encounter.

“The prosecution will be saying this is a place where you wouldn’t expect an incident like this to happen,” said Wilson. “I probably would expect the defense to say that they didn’t go to this incident or to this track meet intending for an altercation like this to happen.”

Whether words were exchanged may not matter, says Wilson.

“Texas law, though, doesn’t allow a person to use deadly force in response to verbal provocation alone,” he said.

It’s important to note, Wilson spoke with NBC 5 before the arrest warrant alleging the victim pushed the suspect was released.

Memorial High paused Thursday morning during second period to remember the 11th grader.

“There’s no words to describe how heartbroken our family is over this,” said Kari Ordas, co-owner of Halo Pizzeria in Frisco. “It was just so unnecessary.”

Ordas started an online fundraiser for Meghan Needham, mother to Austin and Hunter Metcalf. She says Needham took a second job at the restaurant to help pay for her son’s sporting activities.

“Both the boys are a direct result of her work ethic,” said Ordas. “Very polite, very kind.”

Metcalf’s accused killer is in jail. According to jail records, approved visitors include his parents, siblings and girlfriend.

NBC 5’s efforts to reach the suspect’s family for comment have been unsuccessful.