() A representative for the family of Texas teen Karmelo Anthony, who is accused of fatally stabbing another teen at a high school track meet, said they believe their son is innocent. 

“I believe the Anthony family feels that, yes, Karmelo Anthony is innocent of this, and they are going to support Karmelo Anthony in this entire process and get him prepared,” Dominique Alexander told on Wednesday. 

He said the family will stand behind Anthony as he plans to present a self-defense claim. 

Anthony has been charged in the murder of 17-year-old Austin Metcalf. The two allegedly were involved in an altercation, which ended in Metcalf’s death. Metcalf is said to have died in his twin brother’s arms.

Anthony admitted to the crime and asked officers if his actions could be considered self-defense, authorities said.

He was released from jail and placed on house arrest shortly after his bond was reduced from $1 million to $250,000.

Texas law prohibits weapons on school grounds, but Alexander said the reason behind Anthony’s possession of a knife would be “answered in a court of law and jury.” 

Karmelo Anthony family raises $500K in donations

The Anthony family has raised more than $500,000 on a fundraising website, and Alexander said the money was being used “properly.” 

“This fund was created to support their family, to help them relocate, to pay for legal expenses, and I could tell you those funds are being used properly,” he said. 

Alexander did not describe the Metcalf family as victims, though he said that “any loss of life is a tragedy. Any child that loses his life is a tragedy, no matter the circumstance.”

When asked if Anthony feels remorse for the incident, Alexander said he had “never asked him that question.”

Comparing Karmelo Anthony to Kyle Rittenhouse

Alexander also held firm to comments he made comparing Anthony to Kyle Rittenhouse, who was acquitted of killing two men and injuring another at a Black Lives Matter protest after he pleaded self-defense.

“Whatever uproar it wants to create, Kyle Rittenhouse displayed, this was self-defense. And all my correlation is, is that if Kyle Rittenhouse said self-defense, Karmelo Anthony has the rights to self-defense,” Alexander said.

Austin Metcalf’s father thrown out of Anthony family press event

Anthony’s family organized a news conference last month, and Austin Metcalf’s father, Jeffrey Metcalf, showed up “uninvited,” according to Alexander. 

“We asked him, we tried to … literally, this press conference was delayed an entire hour. We asked him to leave several times,” he said. 

Jeffrey Metcalf had said he attended the news conference to pray with the family, which Alexander disputed. He said he did not express any such intent to staff who were present. 

Alexander clarified a previous comment that Jeffrey Metcalf “disrespected the dignity of his son” by attending the event by saying that his “emotions were high at that time.” 

Jeffrey Metcalf was eventually escorted out by police. He declined to discuss specifics or respond to Alexander’s claims, but told , “Truth will come out, and justice will prevail.”