FRISCO, Texas — The suspect accused of fatally stabbing a 17-year-old Frisco high school student at a track meet Wednesday morning reportedly confessed to the incident, claiming he was protecting himself, according to the arrest affidavit.

One witness reportedly told police that the victim, Austin Metcalf, had told the suspect, Karmelo Anthony, he would need to move out from under his team’s tent, the affidavit stated. Anthony is a student at Centennial High School, but was reportedly sitting under Memorial High School’s tent.

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.

Metcalf reportedly started grabbing his chest and telling people to get help, the witness told police.

The affidavit shows that another witness interviewed by police told the same story about the altercation occurring inside Memorial High School’s tent.

In the affidavit, the arresting officer says that when he found 17-year-old Anthony, he reportedly told the officer, “I was protecting myself,” before the officer had even questioned him about the incident.

As the officer was walking Anthony off the track, the suspect reportedly further said that the Metcalf had “put his hands on [him].”

Anthony was then handcuffed, the affidavit reads. After another officer arrived, the arresting officer advised that he had the alleged suspect, to which Anthony reportedly said, “I’m not alleged, I did it.”

The officer also noted fresh blood on Anthony’s left middle finger while he was in the back seat of the vehicle, the report detailed.

The document states that Anthony also reportedly asked the officer if Metcalf was going to be OK while he was in the back seat of the vehicle. While being escorted to the squad car, Anthony asked an officer if his actions could be considered self-defense. 

In a now-viral Facebook post, a relative of Anthony’s backed up his claim of self defense. 

Kevin Hayes, the relative, wrote that Anthony “defended himself against violent aggressors.” He called the victim and his twin brother bullies, said that they tried to “JUMP him” and claimed that they tried to take Anthony’s “belongings, BROKE his phone and STOMPED on it.”

Attorney Mike Howard told WFAA that a claim of self-defense will be difficult to make given that the victim was unarmed. He also said that prosecutors will likely argue that Anthony provoked Metcalf.

“A person claiming self-defense cannot provoke the incident and then claim self-defense when they act,” Howard said.

On defense side, they are likely to argue that he’s a young man, “he’s scared, he’s allegedly been jumped by multiple and he panicked.”

“It becomes a fact question that’s really going to come down to what the witnesses say happened,” Howard said. 

In the Facebook post, Hayes described Anthony as a “respectful well-manned young man,” “a 4.0 student with multiple college officers” and a “kid with zero criminal history.”

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. Anthony is being held in the Collin County jail where his bond amount has been set to $1,000,000. 

The UIL track meet has been postponed to Monday and moved to Little Elm High School. The district promises to share updated security precautions with families in the coming days.

WFAA spoke with Kari Ordas, the owner of Halo Pizzeria in Frisco. Austin worked part-time there alongside his mother, Meghan, and his identical twin brother, Hunter. 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 soon.

Metcalf’s father, Jeff Metcalf, has also started a GoFundMe. Together, they have raised nearly $250,000. Jeff Metcalf met with WFAA for the first time on Thursday to discuss his son and what happened to him. 

He said he was incredibly grateful for the tributes, community support, and love after Wednesday’s incident. 

“Money will never bring my son back, but I need to take care of what’s left and his twin brother,” Jeff Metcalf said.

Metcalf also requested that social media warriors and those using his son’s death to create political discourse let alone racial discourse is disheartening. 

“This is not a race issue. This is not a black and white issue. I don’t want someone stepping up on their soapbox trying to politicize this. Unless you were there, unless you saw it: don’t spread gossip,” Metcalf said. 

When asked about Anthony’s comments regarding self-defense, Metcalf told WFAA that he didn’t think stabbing someone at a school track meet was a reasonable excuse for being told to move. 

“If you’re caught–the best thing you’re going to do is lie your way out of it,” Metcalf said. “The truth will come out–there were too many people there who saw what happened.” 

In Anthony’s arrest paperwork, police listed more than 30 witnesses who saw the stabbing including students and coaches. 

Metcalf made headlines Wednesday after telling numerous media outlets that, despite what happened, he still forgives the suspect. 

Leaning on his faith, he echoed that even after hearing Thursday’s developments. 

“The world needs more kind people. If you can’t find one, be one,” Metcalf said. 

On Friday, Frisco Police Chief David A. Shilson released a statement on the incident, addressing the tragic incident and community concerns. 

“As parents, we must remind our sons and daughters that the choices and decisions they make today can lead to severe consequences for the rest of their lives,” Shilson said in the statement. “Violence cannot be the go-to means that our young people use as their only way to resolve disputes. We must have conversations about what guides their decisions and motivations. Our Students must consider their futures in everything. In every choice they make. In every word and image they post. In every person they are friends with.”

Chief Shilson also asked that the community be careful with online rumors about the fatal stabbing.

“I ask everyone to be cautious of the inaccurate information that is circulating related to this incident, and to only trust information that comes from official releases and verified sources,” Shilson said. “Beware of those taking to social media to deliberately spread misinformation, hate, fear, and division.” 

Shilson added that a fake social media account had been created using his name to spread misinformation, which he said is a third-degree felony that will be investigated.