Karmelo Anthony murder case triggers fundraising dispute and racial slur backlash

Karmelo Anthony was convicted of fatally stabbing 17‑year‑old Austin Metcalf during a track meet in Frisco, Texas, on April 2, 2025. A judge sentenced Anthony to 35 years in a Texas state prison. After a gag order was lifted, Austin’s father Jeff Metcalf appeared on a podcast and referred to Anthony as a “watermelon felon,” used racial slurs and accused the victim’s parents of being “grifters,” sparking widespread outrage on social media.

Separately, a GiveSendGo campaign that raised roughly $634,000 for Anthony’s family was taken offline after the conviction. In his appeal filing, Anthony described himself as “penniless, destitute, and indigent” and sought court‑appointed counsel, prompting scrutiny of how the prior donations had been allocated. New fundraising efforts have been publicised, including a promised $750,000 donation, adding further tension to the case. Both families have reported harassment, including threats and doxxing attempts, drawing attention from local authorities.