FRISCO, Texas — At Halo Pizzeria, they are grieving together after the tragic loss of one of their own.

Austin Metcalf, a 17-year-old student-athlete at Frisco’s Memorial High School, was stabbed and killed Wednesday morning at a UIL track meet. 

His sudden death has left the community in shock, including Kari Ordas, the owner of Halo Pizzeria in Frisco, where Austin worked part-time alongside his mother, Meghan, and his identical twin brother, Hunter.

“They’re not just employees to us. They’re very much family,” Ordas said.

Austin balanced school, track, football, and his job at the restaurant, where Ordas says he always served customers with a smile on his face. She said Austin and Hunter had Wednesdays off so they could attend their youth group at church. 

Faith was important to Austin.

“I’m definitely going to miss seeing Austin,” Ordaz said. “I’m going to miss the light that the [twins] brought out in each other.”

Frisco police said the fatal stabbing resulted from an altercation between two students, though they have not disclosed a motive.

On Thursday afternoon, the suspect, Karmelo Anthony, was transferred to the Collin County Jail. He is charged with first-degree murder.

In an arrest affidavit obtained by WFAA, Anthony confessed to the incident, claiming he was protecting himself. 

One witness reportedly told police that Metcalf had told  Anthony he would need to move out from under his team’s tent, the affidavit stated. Upon telling him this, the witness told police that Anthony opened his bag and reached inside. 

“Touch me and see what happens,” Anthony told Metcalf, according to a witness.

Metcalf reportedly then touched Anthony, the witness told a responding officer, and Anthony told Metcalf to punch him and see what would happen. 

Soon afterward, the witness said, Metcalf reportedly grabbed Anthony to tell him to move. At which point, the affidavit continues, Anthony reportedly pulled out what the witness recalled as a black knife and stabbed Metcalf once in the chest before running away.

According to the affidavit, the knife Anthony allegedly stabbed Metcalf with was later found in the bleachers at the track. Anthony had reportedly thrown it there following the stabbing.

In response to the tragedy, Frisco Independent School District has increased police presence on campuses and is providing counselors for students. The track meet has been postponed to Monday and moved to Little Elm High School, with the district promising to share updated security precautions with families in the coming days.

Both the police department and the school district declined interviews regarding the incident. Authorities are continuing their investigation.

Mo Canady, Executive Director of the National Association of School Resource Officers, said that incidents like these force schools and law enforcement to reevaluate security measures at events.

“We’re always looking at incidents in the rearview mirror, asking ourselves what level of police presence we need to have at a certain event when something like this has occurred,” Canady said. “We’re talking about a track meet, which historically has not generated a lot of problems. Certainly nothing like this I’m aware of.”

Canady emphasized that while metal detectors and other screening technologies can help, they are not a standalone solution.

“Metal detectors can be valuable in certain situations. There is emerging technology for weapons detection that searches more for the shape of a weapon—whether it be a knife, firearm, or explosive device,” Canady explained. “But you can’t just rely on those. You have to have the plan in place and make sure other points of entry and exit are secured.”

For those attending the rescheduled track meet, Canady urged awareness.

“If you see someone with a weapon, obviously, if there is a security guard or officer nearby, grab them and let them know what you’re seeing,” he said. 

“The idea of ‘see something, say something’ is a great one. If you have someone you have a relationship with, tell them. Speak up. Let someone in charge know. If you have a security officer, call 911. Don’t take anything for granted,” he continued.

For Ordas, the focus remains on supporting Austin’s grieving mother and brother.

“We absolutely love this family,” she said. “All three of them came to interview before we even opened our restaurant.”

To help ease the financial burden of funeral and legal expenses, Ordas has launched a GoFundMe for the Metcalf family and is planning a fundraiser at Halo Pizzeria in the near future.

“Calling out to your kid and realizing that they’re not there,” Ordaz said, pausing. “Nothing’s going to change the fact that this mother has lost her child.