Father of slain teen pleads with school to revoke diploma for son’s alleged killer
Jeffrey Metcalf says his son’s memory is being dishonored after accused teen is allowed to graduate
The father of 17-year-old Austin Metcalf, who was fatally stabbed at a Texas track meet, is speaking out against a school district’s decision to let the accused killer receive a high school diploma.
On April 2, what should have been a day of athletic pride at Kuykendall Stadium in Frisco, Texas, turned into a tragedy. Austin Metcalf, a high school senior, was stabbed in the heart during a track and field championship. He died shortly after.
The accused, 18-year-old Karmelo Anthony, was arrested and charged with first-degree murder. According to witnesses, the incident began as a disagreement over seating. Austin and his twin brother Hunter had asked Karmelo, who attended another school, to move from Frisco Memorial High School’s designated tent. The argument escalated, and Karmelo allegedly pulled a knife from his backpack and stabbed Austin.
Controversy over graduation sparks emotional plea
Now, Austin’s father, Jeffrey Metcalf, is pleading with Centennial High School and the Texas Education Agency (TEA) to reconsider their decision to award Karmelo Anthony his diploma.
Though Anthony will not walk the stage or attend the graduation ceremony, reports confirm that he will still receive his diploma through an early graduation arrangement. This news has deeply upset the Metcalf family, who feel that allowing the accused to graduate is a form of reward—especially while their son’s life was cut short.
“You have a father filing a complaint to the TEA,” said Dominque Alexander, a spokesperson for Anthony. According to Alexander, the school district originally considered expelling Anthony completely, but ultimately reached a compromise.
A grieving father’s call for unity—and justice
Last month, Jeffrey Metcalf attended a press conference held by Anthony’s family, who argue that the stabbing was in self-defense. Emotions ran high, and Jeff was escorted away by police. But before leaving, he expressed a desire for unity and compassion—wishing the accused’s family had offered condolences.
“They should have pulled me up and said, ‘We are so sorry. Our condolences,’” he told the New York Post. “The only thing I would have said was, ‘Okay, can we pray together and show the world we’re united?’”
Despite his heartbreak, Jeff has tried to focus on healing and justice, but says the decision to allow Anthony to graduate reopens wounds. He believes the action sends the wrong message—not just to his family, but to the entire school community.
The case has sparked debate across Texas and beyond. Some believe Anthony deserves the right to finish school since he has not yet been convicted. Others argue that granting him a diploma before a trial undermines the seriousness of the crime he is accused of.
On social media, opinions are divided. One commenter wrote, “Innocent until proven guilty, but rewarding someone accused of murder is a dangerous precedent.” Another added, “This dad lost his son. Giving the accused a diploma feels like pouring salt in a wound.”
As the legal case continues and both families wait for trial, the community is left grappling with questions about justice, forgiveness, and accountability.
The Metcalf family’s grief is still fresh, and their plea is simple: honor Austin’s memory by making decisions that reflect justice—not just policy.
