Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’ve probably heard about the fatal stabbing of 17-year-old Austin Metcalf by 17 year old Karmelo Anthony on April 2, 2025, during a high school track meet in Frisco, Texas. It’s a tragic and complex case that’s generated a lot of speculation. As a subject matter expert in use of force and edged weapons, I want to weigh in with some observations and analysis I haven’t seen discussed elsewhere.
From here on, I’ll refer to the victim as Metcalf and the suspect as Anthony.
What We Know (So Far)
Based on limited information released by law enforcement, here’s what I’ve pieced together:
On the day in question, several schools attended a track meet in Frisco. While I’m new to Texas, I was on the track team iin high school back in New Jersey. Apparently, due to the heat and size of these events, it’s common for individual teams to set up pop-up canopies adorned with school logos on the bleachers for shade and to give athletes—and their friends—a place to gather between events.
Metcalf attended the host school and, by most accounts, either returned to or was already under his team’s canopy when he found Anthony (from another school) sitting in what he believed was his spot. Metcalf reportedly told Anthony to get up and leave the tent. A verbal altercation followed, during which Anthony allegedly challenged Metcalf to make him move.
Witnesses describe some sort of physical contact—some say pushing, others claim Metcalf may have punched Anthony. At that point, Anthony retrieved a knife from his bag and stabbed Metcalf once in the chest before fleeing on foot.
When located a short time later, Anthony reportedly corrected an officer who referred to him as the “alleged” suspect, stating, “It’s not alleged. I did it.” He then asked officers if what he did could be considered self-defense. This may qualify as an excited utterance—a spontaneous, often incriminating statement made before a suspect has been Mirandized.
Legal and Tactical Considerations
Anthony was in possession of a deadly weapon on school property, a clear violation under Texas law. Most schools require students to acknowledge the student code of conduct, which includes explicit rules about weapons. Even without that document, it’s common knowledge that bringing a weapon to school—or to a school sporting event—is a bad idea.
There are situations where deadly force might be justified against an unarmed attacker. These generally include:
- A significantly larger or stronger attacker
- Multiple attackers
- Prior knowledge of the attacker’s history of violence
- Being taken to the ground and unable to get up
- Losing consciousness due to blows or choking
None of these conditions seem to apply here. Reports indicate the two individuals did not know each other beforehand, and there’s no evidence of multiple assailants or Anthony being physically overwhelmed.
The state will likely argue that if Anthony had time to access a weapon from his bag, he also had time to walk away. His decision to retrieve a knife and use it instead suggests he escalated the situation rather than escaping it.
In my experience conducting hundreds of hours of force-on-force scenarios and studying edged weapon attacks, a stab wound to the chest—particularly one that penetrates the heart—indicates forward motion. Defensive reactions during a retreat typically involve flailing limbs and slashing, not thrusting. The most common angle of attack is what’s called an “Angle 1″—a right-handed downward diagonal strike (high right to low left), either in a stabbing or slashing motion.
To penetrate the chest and reach the heart, the weapon would have to apply concentrated force at the tip. Slashing won’t achieve this. Street-used knives are rarely razor-sharp unless we’re talking about box cutters. Even cheap knives become deadly when used with the intent to stab.
Without seeing the weapon or the wound path, we can only hypothesize. But it seems clear that Anthony chose to engage—by entering a tent belonging to another school and then escalating when confronted.
A Bigger Cultural Problem
To draw a parallel: if you’re camping and someone walks into your site and gets aggressive when asked to leave, that’s a provocation. This case appears similar. And now, we have a well-liked, respected student dead—and another young man, described the same way, who may spend the rest of his life in prison. Both families and their communities are devastated.
There’s also a racial component inflaming public opinion and adding emotional fuel to every discussion. In my opinion, the lack of transparency from law enforcement is doing more harm than good. When no information is released, speculation fills the vacuum.
This case also reflects a broader societal issue: young men today are no longer allowed to physically work out their conflicts. Wrestling, roughhousing, and the occasional schoolyard fight used to help boys learn how to manage emotions and regulate their responses. Now, many go straight to the “nuclear option”—stabbing or shooting—because they’ve never learned how to channel their aggression in a healthy way.
Final Thoughts
This is a heartbreaking case all around. My prayers go out to both families and the entire Frisco community. We’ve got a long, hot summer ahead of us in Texas—and I fear this won’t be the last tragedy we see unless some serious conversations take place around conflict resolution, emotional regulation, and the role of young men in today’s culture.
