The father of a 17-year-old Texas teen, charged with fatally stabbing Austin Metcalf, a star football player, at a high school track event, insists that his son “was not the aggressor.”
As reported by CrimeOnline, police stated that Austin Metcalf died following an altercation during a multi-school track and field championship at Frisco Independent School District’s Kuykendall Stadium.
Anthony, a student at Frisco’s Centennial High School, has been charged with first-degree murder for allegedly stabbing Metcalf in the chest.
Andrew Anthony, the father of the accused teenager, told The New York Post that his son did not provoke the incident.
“He was not the one who started it,” said Andrew Anthony. “He’s a good kid. He works two jobs, is an A student, and has a 3.7 GPA.”
A probable cause affidavit obtained by CrimeOnline revealed that witnesses informed police that the confrontation began when Metcalf asked Anthony to leave a tent designated for Metcalf’s track team.
The affidavit indicated that the two had never met prior to the incident.
According to police reports, Metcalf confronted Anthony, who was sitting under a tent reserved for Memorial High School students, where Metcalf was a junior.
The affidavit further stated that Anthony reached into his bag after being told he was in the wrong area.
A witness recounted hearing Anthony say, “Touch me and see what happens.”
Following this, Metcalf reportedly touched Anthony, who then encouraged him to strike. Metcalf attempted to make Anthony move, at which point Anthony pulled a black knife from his bag and stabbed Metcalf in the chest before fleeing, as described by the witness.
“I feel bad for the other parents and family; words can’t explain how both [families] have been affected by this tragedy,” Andrew Anthony expressed.
Later, Anthony inquired with police if the incident could be classified as self-defense and asked about Metcalf’s condition.
“I know my client claimed it was self-defense. I have no reason to disbelieve that, but I need to gather facts, talk to witnesses, and understand the situation before making any statements regarding what transpired,” said Anthony’s defense lawyer, Deric Walpole, in a statement to NBC 5. “At this moment, I have no reason to think it wasn’t self-defense.”
Anthony is currently held in the Collin County Jail, with his next court appearance set for Monday at 10:00 a.m. His legal team is seeking a reduced bond.
Stay tuned for updates.
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[Feature Photo: Austin Metcalf/Memorial High School]
