Father of slain teen says he forgave his son's killer and feels pity

In a recent interview, Jeff Metcalf, 56, discussed the death of his 17-year-old son, Austin, who was stabbed to death during a high-school track meet in Frisco, Texas, on April 2, 2025. He said he forgave the 19-year-old perpetrator, Karmelo Anthony, on the first day of the incident, noting that without forgiveness he would have been consumed by rage and possibly sought revenge. Metcalf now feels sorry for Anthony, describing his future as essentially ruined, yet maintains that Anthony must still face accountability for the killing.

A jury sentenced Anthony to 35 years in prison in June after rejecting a sudden-passion claim. Neither Anthony’s appellate lawyer Russell Wilson II nor his trial defense attorney Mike Howard responded to requests for comment. The story was reported, and images of Anthony at the crime scene have been released publicly.