He’s currently under house arrest, which means he has to wear an ankle monitor and stay at his parents’ place. Over $420,000 has been raised online for Anthony’s family after he allegedly received racist threats following Metcalf’s murder. When the judge made his ruling on Monday, prosecutors questioned Anthony’s dad about why he couldn’t use the donations to cover the original bond to get his son out of jail.
Andrew Anthony said that the funds would go towards his son’s legal defense. He added that the money would also help ensure Anthony’s safety after he allegedly faced racist threats following the stabbing. Additionally, Andrew shared that the family intends to relocate to a new home for added security. Defense lawyers clarified that the money collected online isn’t meant for a bond fund; rather, the family requires it to manage their expenses since Antony’s dad is on leave from work.
“This family needs to be able to survive,” defense attorney Mike Howard said, according to Fox affiliate KDFW.
“There’s been a tremendous amount of pressure. I think at this point, living in a gated community, given everything, the safety of their younger children is very warranted.” “Security details and criminal defense are not cheap.”
Meghan Metcalf, Austin’s mother, lowered her head and sobbed as the judge decided to cut Anthony’s bond on Monday.
Anthony’s attorneys initially urged prosecutors to lower his bond to $150,000, arguing $1 million was excessive since the teen had no prior record.
Even though Anthony is facing first-degree murder charges, he claims he stabbed Metcalf in self-defense during a brawl at a stadium in Frisco, Texas, on April 2, according to the police.
Inside Karmelo Anthony’s House Arrest: Life After Bond in the Austin Metcalf Case
Karmelo Anthony is back home—but under tight watch. The 17-year-old, accused of fatally stabbing fellow student Austin Metcalf, was released from the Collin County jail on Monday after a judge agreed to lower his bond from $1 million to $250,000.
He now remains confined to his parents’ home, wearing an ankle monitor as part of strict house arrest conditions. Anthony is banned from using social media and is prohibited from contacting Metcalf’s family in any form. The court has made it clear: if he breaks a single rule, he goes back to jail.
Anthony is only allowed to leave the house with prior permission from the court—and even then, only if he’s accompanied by a parent. Every Friday morning, he must check in with the judge’s bailiff to confirm compliance.
The teen had spent nearly two weeks behind bars before being released. Now, with mounting scrutiny and a looming trial, every step he takes is under a legal microscope.
Touch me and see what happens
In an arrest report, it was mentioned that Anthony informed a school official that Metcalf had ‘laid hands on him.’ When the police labeled Anthony as the suspected perpetrator, he allegedly responded, ‘I’m not a suspect. I did it.’ Witnesses claimed that Anthony warned Metcalf, ‘touch me and find out what happens’ after being asked to vacate his seat. Following that, Anthony pulled out a knife from his bag and stabbed Metcalf, who ultimately succumbed to his injuries in his brother’s embrace.
Jail Release
As he walked out of jail on Monday in a gray suit, Anthony kept a serious expression and headed straight for the car, brushing off questions from reporters about how the shooting could be seen as self-defense. After the bond hearing, Howard told the press that Anthony was just protecting himself.
“Every Texan deserves the right to defend themselves when they reasonably fear for their life,” Howard said.
“Self-defense is a protection that applies to each and every one of us. There are two sides to every story.
“Karmelo is a 17-year-old kid and an excellent student. He is the captain of his track team and the captain of his football team. This is a tragedy all the way around for both families,” Howard said.
At the hearing, the prosecutors claimed the murder wasn’t warranted. “For some reason, the defendant showed up with a knife at a track meet when it could have just been a fistfight at most,” said Collin County First Assistant Bill Wirsky on Monday. They also mentioned that Anthony had another fight at school on February 4.
Fundraiser Backlash
As of Tuesday morning, donations to Anthony’s family had reached $429,857 toward a $500,000 goal.
The fundraiser has triggered backlash online, with many calling for the page’s removal out of respect for Metcalf’s family.
Judge Angela Tucker of the 199th Judicial District Court said she first learned she’d been assigned this case last Monday, and emphasized that judicial assignments are done randomly. She clarified that she was only overseeing the bond hearing, and that a different judge will be randomly selected to preside over the eventual trial.
Judge Tucker noted that she’s never experienced the level of security concerns that have come with this case.
She also reminded those present that this was a bond hearing—not a trial. The role of a bond, she said, is to make sure the defendant appears in court and to protect the public.
“I don’t take that lightly at all. I take those things very seriously,” she said. “There is no replacement for the loss of life or the loss of a child. I don’t want the family to think a bond amount is connected to the dignity of loss. You cannot make the person come back.”
