Police in Frisco, Texas, are warning about the spread of false information about the stabbing death of a teenager last week at a track meet.
Authorities on Friday cited fraudulent official documents, including a fake medical examiner’s report, saying that 17-year-old Austin Metcalf died from an overdose instead of a fatal stab wound to the heart.
Police charged 17-year-old Karmelo Anthony with murder in connection to Austin’s death.
Frisco Police Chief David Shilson also warned about social media posts attributed to himself.
“Beware of those taking to social media to deliberately spread misinformation, hate, fear and division,” Chief Shilson said. “Yesterday evening a fictitious account was created using my name perpetuating misinformation. This is a criminal offense and a third-degree felony, which will be investigated.”
The case has captured national attention, largely because Austin was White and the suspect is Black.
An arrest report said the stabbing occurred Wednesday inside a tent during a track meet at Memorial High School.
According to witnesses, police said Austin told Karmelo to get out of the tent around 10 a.m. Wednesday. The confrontation escalated, and the report said Karmelo reached inside his bag and told the victim, “Touch me again and see what happens.”
Austin grabbed Karmelo to move him, which is when the 17-year-old suspect “stabbed Austin once in the chest and then ran away,” the report states.
Police said Karmelo was arrested at the scene and Austin died at a hospital a short time later. A bloody knife was recovered in the bleachers.
According to the arrest report, when an officer referred to Karmelo as the “alleged suspect” during a discussion with another officer, Karmelo responded “I’m not alleged, I did it.”
The report said Karmelo began crying hysterically as he was being led to a police cruiser, saying “He put his hands on me, I told him not to.”
The suspect also asked if the victim was going to be OK and if what happened could be considered self-defense, the report states.
Karmelo was charged with first-degree murder and is being kept behind bars on a $1 million bond.
• Matt Delaney can be reached at [email protected].
