An online fundraiser for Karmelo Anthony, the Texas high school student accused of stabbing fellow 17-year-old student-athlete Austin Metcalf to death at a Frisco, Texas, track meet last week, is nearing $150,000 in total donations.

“The narrative being spread is false, unjust, and harmful,” the Anthony family said in a statement on the crowdfunding platform GiveSendGo. “As a family of faith, we are deeply grateful for all of your support during this trying period. Your prayers and assistance mean more to us now more than ever.”

The fund, called the Help Karmelo Official Fund, was set up to support “Karmelo and his family during this challenging and difficult time.”

Anthony told police he did stab Metcalf but says that Metcalf put his hands on him first, according to FOX 4. Anthony also reportedly asked police whether what he did could be considered self-defense. 

The latest comments from donors on the GiveSendGo platform expressed support for Anthony.

“Self defense in a stand your ground state this young man did nothing wrong and has the right to defend himself as the legal system said it was right for Daniel Penny and Kyle Rittenhouse it’s right for him too,” said one comment. 

File photo of Jeff Metcalf, left, with his son, Austin Metcalf, a junior at Memorial High School in Frisco, who was stabbed in the chest allegedly by 17-year-old Karmelo Anthony, a student-athlete from Frisco Centennial High School. (Courtesy Jeff Metcalf)

Another comment suggested that racism was to blame. 

“stay strong young brother, all of us that have came up in this country hope to never go through this or see others like us go through this, but it is an unfortunate reality of this country that these people can appear to do as they like until we make a drastic and lasting change,” another comment said. “Let your legal be the fight one of the many victories in this seemingly eternal fight against racism and evil.”

Fox News’ Brie Stimson contributed to this report.