The heartbreaking news of Austin Metcalf’s death has left his Texas community and the nation in mourning. At just 17 years old, the Frisco Memorial High School student lost his life in what authorities are calling a fatal stabbing during a track and field event on April 2, 2025. Tributes have since poured in for the teen, who was widely described as a bright, driven, and kind-hearted young man with a deep love for football and his faith.
The incident unfolded at Kuykendall Stadium in Frisco, Texas. According to Frisco Police, they responded to reports of an altercation between two students. What began as a confrontation quickly escalated into a tragedy that no one saw coming. Austin was reportedly attending the event alongside his twin brother, Hunter, when he asked another student, Karmelo Anthony, to vacate a space in Frisco Memorial’s team tent. What followed was an argument that turned violent in a matter of seconds.
Hunter later told WFAA that after his brother confronted Anthony and asked him to move, the other student responded with defiance, challenging Austin to “make me move.” Moments later, Anthony is said to have retrieved a knife from his backpack and stabbed Austin in the chest. The act was as swift as it was shocking — and it was fatal.
Hunter, in an act of desperate love and bravery, tried to save his brother. He held Austin in his arms, attempting to stanch the bleeding while awaiting emergency responders. He then made the gut-wrenching call to their parents. “I could see all the blood, and I saw where the wound was,” said their father, Jeff Metcalf, in a tearful interview with NBC Dallas-Fort Worth. “I was very concerned, so I had to find his brother, and we rushed to the hospital. And we prayed… but they weren’t able to save him. This is murder.”
In the wake of Austin’s passing, an outpouring of grief and support has swept across social media. His final post on X, shared just two days before the stabbing, has struck a poignant chord:
“Faith that god got me
and my work will pay off.”
It now stands as a haunting reminder of a life filled with hope and promise, taken far too soon.
Countless users responded to his words with heartfelt tributes. One wrote, “What a precious heart. He was taken from the world too soon. Although we may not understand the timing, I know God has him now.” Another added, “Praying for Strength and Courage for the family and friends during this incredibly difficult time…”
The accused, 17-year-old Karmelo Anthony, who reportedly attends a different high school, has been arrested and charged with first-degree murder. He is being held in Collin County Jail on a $1 million bond. His father, Andrew Anthony, has publicly stated that his son was not the aggressor and urged people to withhold judgment until all facts come to light. “Everyone has already made their assumptions about my son, but he’s not what they’re making him out to be,” he told the New York Post.
Still, the Metcalf family is left to grapple with a profound and sudden loss. Jeff Metcalf described his son as a “leader of men” with a smile that could “light up the room.” He also shared that Austin’s passion for football was unmatched. A GoFundMe page created in Austin’s memory paints the picture of a young man loved not just by his family, but by his peers, coaches, and community members who saw a future of greatness ahead of him.
For many, the tragedy of Austin’s death is compounded by the senselessness of the violence. What should have been an ordinary school athletic event became the site of an irreversible loss. The entire Frisco community — from classmates and teammates to teachers and neighbors — is reeling from the shock, holding tight to one another as they attempt to make sense of the unimaginable.
As investigations continue, and the legal process unfolds, what remains certain is that a bright light has gone out far too soon. The sorrow is immense, and the pain shared across so many hearts. But amid the grief, there is also love — for Austin, for his family, and for the memory of a boy who believed in his faith, in his work, and in a future he would never get the chance to see.
Rest in peace, Austin Metcalf. You will not be forgotten.
