Karmelo Anthony, charged in fatal Frisco track meet stabbing, released on bond
Karmelo Anthony, the 17-year-old charged with first-degree murder in the fatal stabbing of a teen at a Frisco track meet earlier this month, was released from jail on bond Monday.
Earlier on Monday, a Collin County judge lowered Anthony's bond from $1 million to $250,000.
Anthony walked out of the jail silently, with a few people by his side; however, his mother and father were not seen with him.
His family and the family of Austin Metcalf arrived at the Collin County Courthouse with extra security.
"Unfortunately, as is common in our culture, especially lately, the vitriol and, you know, public reaction one way or the other has been intense and threats and talk of race, war and all kinds of insanity, isn't good for, obviously, the Anthony family," said defense attorney Mike Howard. "It's not good for the Metcalf family. It's not good for the peace and safety of our community."
"It's hard for everybody to be levelheaded at a time like this. So that's where we come in," said Greg Willis, the Collin County District Attorney. "It's our job to be levelheaded, to be fact-based, and to follow the truth wherever it leads."
This comes just days after Metcalf was laid to rest. After the hearing, both sides pleaded with the public to stop the threats, harassment and inflammatory rhetoric towards the families involved.
Anthony's arrest
Anthony had been in the Collin County jail since his April 2 arrest for allegedly stabbing and killing 17-year-old Austin Metcalf at a Frisco ISD track meet. According to witness statements, Anthony and Metcalf were involved in a verbal dispute, and at one point, Anthony pulled out a knife and stabbed Metcalf once in the chest.
Anthony complied with officers at the scene and was taken into custody. While in the police vehicle, Anthony reportedly asked the officer if Metcalf was going to be okay and if what he did would be considered self-defense.
Conditions of release
Anthony will be required to wear an ankle monitor and to stay inside his parents' home under adult supervision with an approved adult. He is also not allowed on social media and cannot engage with his classmates or anything related to school. He will have to check in with the court every Friday.
Since his arrest, Anthony's family hired defense attorneys Billy Clark and Kim Cole, who promptly requested that Anthony's bond be reduced.
