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THE family of a teen accused of stabbing a promising student athlete to death have reportedly made lavish purchases and been inundated with deliveries at their home.
Karmelo Anthony, 17, was released from jail on Monday—weeks after allegedly knifing Austin Metcalf, also 17, at a high school track meet.
The Anthonys are said to be renting a home that costs an estimated $3,500 per month in a Frisco, Texas, neighborhood, and neighbors have claimed the family has made lavish purchases, per The Mail.
“He’s got a new car,” one local told the outlet.
And the family has been inundated with Amazon packages, and a Domino’s pizza was delivered to the home.
Anthony was released from jail after a judge agreed to lower his $1 million bond to $250,000.
But, he has to wear an ankle monitor and comply with strict conditions.
Anthony must be supervised by an adult and check in with a judge’s bailiff on a Friday morning.
He is also banned from using social media and cannot contact Metcalf’s family.
His family has been inundated with donations, now totaling more than $440,000.
They are planning to use the money to buy a new home and increase security.
Anthony’s team revealed the fundraiser will go toward supporting “urgent and necessary needs.”
They explained that fears regarding his safety have escalated.
“This family needs to be able to survive,” defense attorney Mike Howard said, according to Fox affiliate KDFW.
“There’s been a tremendous amount of pressure. I think at this point, living in a gated community, given everything, the safety of their younger children is very warranted.”
Howard warned that security isn’t cheap.
Karmelo Anthony’s house arrest
Karmelo Anthony was released on $250,000 bond after a judge reduced it from $1 million on Monday.
Anthony had been in Collin County jail since he was arrested on April 2 and charged with the fatal stabbing of Austin Metcalf.
The teen is now on house arrest in his parents’ house with an ankle monitor.
He is not allowed to use social media.
He can’t contact Metcalf’s family in any way.
Anthony can only leave his house with prior approval from the court, and he must be supervised by a parent at all times.
He is required to check in with the judge’s bailiff every Friday morning.
Anthony will return to jail if he breaks any of the house arrest conditions.
Anthony’s family issued an update on April 15, thanking donors for their support.
His defense team had initially tried to get his bond lowered to $150,000.
They noted that he had not been arrested before the April 2 stabbing.
His attorneys also claimed that the probe had been one-sided so far.
Anthony will not face the death penalty if convicted.
Meanwhile, Metcalf’s funeral has since taken place but the CBS affiliate KTVT-TV revealed security at the service was beefed up.
Police have called out the disinformation that has swirled in light of the stabbing.
DISINFORMATION SWIRLS
Fake dossiers, purporting to be autopsy reports, have surfaced online claiming that Metcalf died from a drug overdose.
Police have called out posts on social media where investigators were impersonated.
Metcalf, a high school junior, died in his twin brother’s arms following the attack at Kuykendall Stadium.
Anthony allegedly stabbed Metcalf following an argument over a seat, according to police.
Metcalf’s dad, Jeff, claimed a person was “mouthing off” behind his son’s athletics team.
“They were sitting there, and someone was behind them mouthing off, and they turned around and said, ‘Who are you?’” Jeff told the Fox affiliate KDFW-TV.
The person reportedly replied “I’m Melo” before Metcalf’s team hit back saying he went to a different school.
They reportedly warned Anthony to find a new seat, but he refused.
Anthony told police he was acting in self-defense.
“I was protecting myself,” he reportedly told an investigator, according to an affidavit seen by the Austin American-Statesman.
The teen claimed he had warned Metcalf to keep his hands off him.
One witness told officers that Anthony threatened Metcalf.
They said that he opened his bag before warning Metcalf: “Touch me and see what happens.”
I was protecting myself
Karmelo Anthony
Anthony admitted he stabbed Metcalf while being quizzed by police.
“I’m not alleged. I did it,” he reportedly told police.
Cops revealed Anthony was crying hysterically and one spotted fresh blood on his left hand.
Metcalf’s brother, Hunter, described the killing as “senseless.”
“I don’t know why a person would do that to someone just over that little argument,” he told the ABC affiliate WFAA.
“It’s just crazy in this world nowadays how people just up and do that.”
Hunter paid a glowing tribute to Metcalf at the memorial service.
“He was the strongest kid I knew and the bravest, and all the memories I can look back on, I wish we could make more,” he told the congregation.
Metcalf’s devastated mom, Meghan, said: “I love you, my big baby.”
Metcalf was a rising football star and tributes were paid by his coaches and teammates.
Chris Jackson described him as a natural leader, per Christian Post.
“I will tell you that he wanted us to live by a gold standard and that gold standard, is man, grace,” he said.
