An online fundraiser for Karmelo Anthony, a 17-year-old Texas high schooler accused of murdering fellow student Austin Metcalf at a track meet on April 2, has reached $453,283. The accused’s bond was recently reduced from $1 million to $250,000.

Newsweek contacted Anthony’s attorney for comment via email on Thursday outside of regular office hours.

Why It Matters

The case has sparked intense debate on social media, some of which has been infused with race as Anthony is Black, while Metcalf was white.

Anthony claims he acted in self-defense and some of his supporters have compared his case to that of Kyle Rittenhouse, who was found not guilty of murder after shooting dead two people during a riot in Kenosha, Wisconsin, in 2020. However, prosecutors took a different view and have charged Anthony with first-degree murder.

Split image of Karmelo Anthony, left, who has been accused of murdering Austin Metcalf, right. Split image of Karmelo Anthony, left, who has been accused of murdering Austin Metcalf, right. Twitter/X

What To Know

On April 2, Metcalf, a student at Memorial High School in Frisco, one of Dallas’ northern suburbs, was stabbed to death during a track event held at the Kuykendall Stadium.

Police arrested Anthony, a Centennial High School student and football player also aged 17, over the killing, though he says he acted in self-defense.

Online fundraisers have been created to support both families, with two for Metcalf having raised $564,326 as of 2:50 a.m. ET on Thursday, compared to $453,283 for Anthony.

The fund for Anthony was created on fundraising website GiveSendGo and is titled “Help Karmelo Official Fund.”

It states: “We are grateful for your support during this incredibly difficult time for Karmelo Anthony and his family. This fundraiser has been established to provide comprehensive assistance to the Anthony family as they navigate the many challenges surrounding Karmelo’s case.”

On Monday, Judge Angela Tucker reduced Anthony’s bond from $1 million to $250,000 which his family posted later that day, resulting in him being released from custody.

There are currently two fundraisers for Metcalf on the GoFundMe platform. The first, organized by his father Jeff Metcalf, is titled “Honoring Austin Metcalf: Help His Family Heal” and has received $385,582 so far.

Jeff Metcalf wrote: “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.”

The second was created to help support Austin Metcalf’s “mother Meghan and twin brother Hunter” by a local pizzeria owner, where all three used to work. It has raised $178,744 toward “funeral costs, a scholarship in Austin’s name and any future legal battles.”

According to the arrest report, an altercation began when Metcalf asked Anthony to move from under Memorial’s pop-up tent, at which point one witness said Anthony reached into a bag and replied: “Touch me and see what happens.”

The arrest report said Anthony confessed to the police, saying: “I’m not alleged. I did it.”

The report said he later told the police: “I was protecting myself,” adding, “He put his hands on me.”

Speaking with the New York Post, Anthony’s father said his son had been “provoked” and “was not the aggressor.”

What People Are Saying

One anonymous individual who donated $10 toward Karmelo Anthony’s crowdfunder wrote: “Keep the conversation grounded in facts. A case that wasn’t of premeditated murder, just an incident similar to [Kyle] Rittenhouse’s situation, Karmelo was facing imminent threats to his life. No criminal record or history that supports any claim of cold-blooded murder. Donating every week until he’s free for real.”

A second who gave $25 said: “Donating again because the pain of watching a young Black child be targeted by lies and hate is too much to bear. We don’t care how the funds are used—this is about standing with Karmelo Anthony and demanding justice.”

On the fundraiser setup by Metcalf’s father one donor wrote “Rest in peace Austin. I pray that justice is served for his murder.” A second commented: “I’m so very sorry for the senseless loss of your boy Austin. He sounds like an extra special kid. God bless Austin and his twin.”

What Happens Next

Under his bail conditions, Anthony will remain under house arrest, and has an electric ankle monitor fitted and has been banned from social media. His trial data has yet to be announced.