Karmelo Anthony, the 17-year-old accused of fatally stabbing fellow student Austin Metcalf during a track meet in Frisco, Texas, will not face the death penalty or life without parole if convicted, due to Supreme Court rulings that prohibit such sentences for juveniles.
According to the New York Post, Collin County District Attorney Greg Willis offered an explanation for the controversial decision after the brutal killing of the Texas high school football star:
“The Supreme Court has said not only can you not seek the death penalty against someone who committed a crime when they’re 17, you can’t even get them life without parole. That would not be something we could do even if we wanted to,” Willis said.
The stabbing allegedly followed a brief altercation sparked when Metcalf, also 17, asked Anthony to move out of his school’s tent during a rain delay, according to a police report.
Metcalf’s twin brother, Hunter, rushed to Austin’s aid but couldn’t save him.
Anthony allegedly admitted to stabbing Metcalf as he was taken into custody, but claimed it was in self-defense, the police report said.
The incident occurred on April 2 at Frisco’s Kuykendall Stadium during a track and field championship. Witnesses said the altercation turned deadly after Anthony allegedly reacted aggressively to Metcalf’s request that he move from an area reserved for his track team.
Anthony has been charged with first-degree murder and is currently held on a $1 million bond. His legal team plans to request a bond reduction, asserting that the current amount is excessive.
The case has drawn national attention, sparking heightened emotions and even threats—including against Anthony’s family after their address was leaked online. Frustration has also grown over an online fundraiser for Anthony on GiveSendGo, which remains active and has raised nearly $300,000 as of Wednesday.
Despite speculation about moving the trial, District Attorney Willis said he prefers the case to stay in Collin County, allowing local jurors to decide the outcome.
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He’s an adult. He brought a knife top a track meet. Premeditated. Not self-defense. Damn the people donating to this criminal.
Another thing – Most people who use a knife to stab usually go for the gut, he went STRAIGHT FOR THE HEART, meaning to KILL him instantly, not to just warn or wound him. He deliberately MEANT to kill him..
This case has all the elements of “premeditated” murder and SHOULD be treated as such.
At seventeen he is for all practical purposes an adult; if not, picking up that knife and committing cold blooded murder MADE him an adult. .
The first element of murder one was the placing of the knife in the gym bag – preparation/planning.
Commit a cold blooded murder. Get rich. What has become of this country.
It shouldn’t matter if you are 12, 17. or whatever; when you decide to pick up a lethal weapon. be it a gun, a knife or a machete or rock, and to use that lethal weapon to take someone’s life without PROVOCATION, that makes you an ADULT.
I do NOT agree with that ideology whatsoever;
Did he have the cognizance? For all practical purposes he did, as this appears to have ALL the elements of MURDER 1; Premeditation/planning (placing a lethal weapon in gyn bag) Intimidation: Deliberately sitting in an area designated for the opposing team, and DARING a member, the VICTIM, of the opposing team to to REMOVE you, with the INTENTION of using the weapon in the bag, when/if the victim takes the BAIT.
It doesn’t matter whether you are twelve, fifteen or seventeen, once you pick up a lethal weapon, INTENTIONALLY and DELIBERATELY use it to commit a heinous murder of an innocent victim, you become an ADULT and SHOULD be tried as an adult.
SO YOU’RE SAYING A FIRING SQUAD IS NOT ALLOWED FOR THIS THUG?!
WHY NOT? All the elements of Murder one are there, including aforethought and planning = premediated
Isn’t the age or reason something like six years of age? That would mean that Kamelo would have been able to reason that if he stabbed someone in the heart, they would die?
Awww! Look at the expression on his face. Poor Baby! He should be locked away for life if not executed. He carried a knife to a track meet and he gets away with murder?! One of the problems where I live in Texas is that there are no significant penalties for minors who are viciously violent, who rob kill and destroy! They get picked up by P.D., charged, then go in front of a bleeding heart judge who turns them loose because they are “kids.” That thug is no KID and he is trying to get people to feel sorry for him with that stupid expression!
He stabbed another student in the heart. Why did he have a knife at a track meet? Then he CONFESSED straight out, Yup, I did it
Then the family raises $450,000 in online funds and says, they are not going to use it for defense and lawyers, but instead, to enrich their personal lives.
WHY are people financially REWARDING the KILLER for the crime of killing another student in COLD BLOOD????
People in the USA have gone batshit crazy. And LAW is non-existant when a 17 year old can take a knife onto SCHOOL GROUNDS and then stab and kill another student.
If the KILLER says “self-defense” what EXACTLY was he defending himself against? If there had been a commotion, the coaches/Staff could have intervened. NO, instead, the KILLER PLUNGED A KNIFE INTO THE OTHER STUDENTS HEART. Clear intention of KILLING, not defending.
HE NEEDS TO BE TRIED AS AN ADULT
When will his victim be brought back to life?