Austin Metcalf’s father’s appearance at the press conference held by Karmelo Anthony’s parents comes after the stabbing suspect spoke out about the incident, confessing his guilt.
Weeks after the fatal stabbing of 17-year-old Austin Metcalf, which occurred at a Frisco track meet on April 2, 2025, the family of the teenager accused of the act has spoken out publicly. Among the crowd gathered to listen to what Karmelo Anthony’s parents had to say about the incident was Austin’s father, Jeff Metcalf, who, according to reports, was not invited to the event.
Jeff’s presence at the press event cast an immediate and undeniable tension over the gathering. Just before noon — nearly an hour after the conference was scheduled to begin — members of the Dallas Police Department quietly approached him and asked that he leave.
He complied without protest. Jeff later shared with local reporters that he had no intention of addressing the media and had only come to listen.
Online videos show Jeff being asked to leave by police officials. One such post comes from CBS 11 reporter J.D. Miles. “Dallas Police have arrived and Austin Metcalf’s father is leaving news conference where Karmelo Anthony’s parents are scheduled to speak publicly for the first time,” reads the reporter’s caption.
Although Jeff left without causing any trouble, his presence did not go unnoticed — or unaddressed. Dominique Alexander, who opened the conference on behalf of the Anthony family, acknowledged the disruption at the outset.
In a pointed and impassioned statement, he criticized Jeff’s attendance as “a disrespect to the dignity of his son,” asserting that it was inappropriate. “It just shows you all the character. He was not invited. He knows that it’s inappropriate to be near this family,” emphasized the representative.
Dominique Alexander speaking about Jeff Metcalfe’s appearance at the press conference, with Karmelo Anthony’s dad standing behind him, posted on April 17, 2025. | Source: X/@charliekirk11
Continuing, he remarked, “And so, I say to people, ‘Actions speak louder than words,’ okay?” before going on about the political optics surrounding the widely talked about case.
Taking to X, Charlie Kirk, the host of “The Charlie Kirk Show,” shared a snippet of Dominique’s remarks, calling what he did “insanity” and “revolting.”
Following Jeff’s exit and Dominique’s reflections, Karmelo’s mother, Kayla Hayes, gave an emotional and deeply personal account of what her family has been going through ever since her son’s arrest.
She began by sharing the family’s backstory of how they moved to North Texas three years ago in search of a better life.
Karmelo Anthony’s dad and mom, Kayla Hayes, speaking during the press conference, posted on April 17, 2025. | Source: X/@CollinRugg
“My husband worked hard every single day to provide for us, to make sure we are in the best financial position possible. As a stay-at-home mom, I made it my life’s mission to ensure our children are loved, nurtured and supported every step of the way,” Karmelo’s mom stated.
She then painted a picture of a family shattered, not only by the tragedy itself but by what she described as relentless public scrutiny and harassment. Her statement revealed a family under siege: doxxed on social media, subjected to death threats, and forced into hiding.
Kayla Hayes speaking about the vitriol her family has received in light of the incident. | Source: X/@CollinRugg
Kayla recounted how her husband took a leave of absence from work out of fear, and how their 13-year-old daughter now struggles to sleep alone at night.
“The lies and false accusations that have been said about us […] has been overwhelming,” she shared, pushing back against narratives that have circulated online and in the press. Among the claims she directly refuted was the notion that their family had misused a fundraising campaign. “We have not received a single dime,” she clarified, noting that even the platform’s co-founder had confirmed this.
Kayla Hayes speaking about the tragedy. | Source: X/@CollinRugg
As of the day before the press conference, the family had only just been cleared to begin the withdrawal process — a process that would still take another week.
Despite her anguish, Kayla emphasized her belief in due process. She declined to speak about the specific details of the incident, citing the ongoing investigation. “Our son deserved the same rights under the law that everyone is afforded,” the matriarch firmly asserted.
Karmelo Anthony’s parents during the press conference. | Source: X/@CollinRugg
She added that they had placed their faith in both the Constitution and the legal system to eventually reveal the full truth. Concerning the environment Karmelo grew up in, Kayla disclosed, “He’s been raised in a two-parent home with structure, stability, love, and we put God first in everything that we do.”
In closing, she expressed sympathy for the Metcalf family’s loss, while appealing for patience, prayers, and understanding for her own, and expressing gratitude to those who have shown her family support.
Karmelo Anthony’s father and mother. | Source: X/@CollinRugg
The New Generation Action Network (NGAN), which organized the press conference, explained in a prior news release that the goal was to allow the Anthony family to share their side of the story.
The statement cited a flood of “falsehoods, misinformation, and hateful attacks” as a driving force behind the event. While attendees were initially told the family would take questions, they exited the venue immediately after their prepared remarks, leaving the press and public to absorb the weight of what had just unfolded.
As the Anthony family continues to face legal uncertainty and mounting public scrutiny, another consequence of the April 2 incident has emerged — this time from the school district itself.
During Thursday’s press conference, Dominique revealed that Frisco Independent School District (ISD) had notified the Anthonys of its intention to expel Karmelo, just one month shy of his high school graduation. “Karmelo Anthony is a 3.7 GPA student, and if he doesn’t even go to class for the remainder of the year, he would graduate,” Dominique explained
He suggested that the district’s decision appeared to shift blame prematurely, without waiting for the legal process to run its course. The family had previously urged Frisco ISD to withhold judgment, hoping for due process to play out in full.
When pressed for clarification, Frisco ISD cited student privacy laws and declined to comment on Karmelo’s specific disciplinary situation. However, the district did outline its general procedures for handling such cases.
According to their policy, when a student is charged with a serious offense — classified under Title V felonies — school officials review the allegations and may recommend expulsion. In such instances, the student and their guardians are informed via formal notice, and a hearing is scheduled to allow the student to present their case.
Pending the outcome, students are barred from school property. Should an expulsion be enforced, the student may continue their education through an alternative learning program known as JJAEP.
In cases where graduation requirements have already been met, the district may authorize early graduation in lieu of continuing at JJAEP. Regardless of the path chosen, expelled students remain prohibited from entering Frisco ISD grounds.
Additional details surrounding the case include the fact that Karmelo’s bond was reduced from $1 million to $250,000 on Monday. After his family posted the bond, the 17-year-old was placed on house arrest, only being permitted to leave his house with approval from the court.
With strict conditions set in place, if Karmelo violates any of the measures, he could go back to Collin County Jail. This news and the press conference follow the remarks Karmello made about his actions.
According to an arrest affidavit obtained by NBC 5 Dallas–Fort Worth (DFW), when officers referred to him as the “alleged suspect,” Karmelo, a student at Centennial High School, responded with, “I’m not alleged, I did it.”
The affidavit details Karmelo claiming he acted in self-defense, telling a school resource officer on the scene, “I was protecting myself,” and “He put his hands on me.” Authorities say he also asked officers whether what happened could be considered self-defense and whether the victim would be okay.
Karmelo’s admission came shortly after the incident, which occurred around 10 a.m. on April 2, Wednesday, during a high school track meet at Kuykendall Stadium. According to an arrest affidavit, Karmelo had taken shelter under a pop-up tent belonging to another school as rain began to fall.
When he was asked to move, an altercation broke out between him and Austin. A witness told police that Karmelo unzipped his bag, reached inside, and warned him, “Touch me and see what happens.”
Moments later, Austin allegedly grabbed Karmelo, who then pulled out a black knife and stabbed him once in the chest.
A school resource officer from nearby Staley Middle School was the first to respond. Austin suffered a fatal wound to the heart. His father, Jeff, said his son died in the arms of his twin brother, Hunter Metcalf.
“They were twins, identical twins, and his brother was holding on to him, trying to make it stop bleeding, and he died in his brother’s arms,” Jeff recalled.
He further explained that he rushed to the scene after learning about the stabbing. When he arrived, he found Austin on a gurney and was told his son wasn’t breathing. He described seeing a large amount of blood and the location of the wound. Deeply concerned, he searched for Hunter, and the two went together to the hospital.
There, the family prayed as doctors attempted to save his son’s life. Despite their efforts, Austin could not be revived. His father described the loss as part of “God’s plan,” though he said he didn’t understand it and called what happened “murder.”
Austin’s mother, Meghan, recalled rushing to the hospital as soon as Hunter called her. “My son is not here anymore, and I don’t understand it,” she said. “He was the most amazing kid. So smart. He had college football guys looking at him to play in college. His goal was to play in college.”
Hunter remembered reacting immediately when the incident happened. He turned quickly to his brother and, though visibly emotional, chose not to describe the full scene. He shared that he did everything he could to help Austin in those critical moments.
Hunter said Austin “did everything” for their family. “As a linebacker, he was a stud, and I always tried to fill those shoes and play with him. I had a blast my whole life playing sports with him,” he remarked.
Although Austin was only four minutes older, Hunter said he always looked up to him, adding, “He was a big brother even though we’re the same age.”
Meghan shared the emotional weight of losing her son and spoke about how she and her family intend to carry his memory forward. “We just want to make sure that everybody knows how much Austin is still going to be in our lives as far as our memories and our hearts forever. It’s going to be really hard,” she explained.
In a joint statement released on April 4, Friday, Meghan and Hunter thanked the community for its overwhelming support. They said they would leave the investigation in the hands of detectives while focusing on commemorating Austin’s life and legacy.
The family also launched a GoFundMe campaign, titled “Honoring Austin Metcalf: Help His Family Heal,” where Austin’s dad described him as a driven student-athlete with a 4.0 GPA and a deep passion for football.
“We will all remember him for the way he impacted others’ lives. I love you forever, son. It’s not goodbye, it’s see you later. God will take care of us till we meet again. RIP. Love, Dad,” Jeff wrote. The campaign has currently raised $421,719.
On the day after the stabbing, Memorial High School paused during second period to honor Austin, as the community continued to rally around his grieving family.
Prior to the Anthony family press conference, Karmelo, charged with murder, remained in custody at the Collin County Jail on a $1 million bond. His attorneys, Billy Clark and Kim T. Cole, released their first public statement on April 7, Monday, expressing condolences to the Metcalf family and emphasizing Karmelo’s right to due process.
“Karmelo and the entire Anthony family are sincerely saddened that a life was lost,” they said. “We are committed to ensuring that Karmelo’s rights are indeed protected throughout each phase of the criminal justice system.”
They had confirmed plans to work with the Collin County District Attorney’s Office to seek a reduction of the bond and a re-evaluation of the charge. The attorneys also noted that Karmelo told police he acted in self-defense and asked whether the incident could be considered as such.
“This will certainly be a long road ahead and during this challenging time, we ask for prayers for both families and we ask for your patience and respect for the legal process as we seek the truth,” the lawyers stated.
Shortly after the incident, Karmelo’s family launched their own GiveSendGo campaign, titled “Help Karmelo Official Fund.”
The page describes the circulating narrative as “false, unjust, and harmful,” and thanks supporters for their prayers and donations. As of this writing, the fundraiser has collected $479,569 toward its $550,000 goal.
One donor, Stephanie Crutchfield, owner and CEO of multiple businesses, including Cutting Edge Tax Software and Crutchfield Taxes & Financial Solutions, contributed $1,000 and shared a public message of support, “Let’s get this baby home. I have a young black son as well, and I live in Collin County.
She added, “This baby was bullied and was defending himself, I know it’s [sic] more to this story. I’m praying 🙏🏾 for you and your family. Please let me know how else I can help.”
If convicted of murder, Karmelo reportedly faces a potential sentence of five to 99 years in prison under Texas law.