A shocking decision has rocked Frisco (TX), where 17-year-old Karmelo Anthony, charged with first-degree murder in the stabbing death of track star Austin Metcalf and allegedly confessing to the crime, is set to graduate from Centennial High School on May 22, 2025.

Anthony, out on bond and under house arrest, will receive his diploma, leaving Metcalf’s family and community furious.

The move to let an admitted killer earn a degree while a town mourns a beloved teen has sparked a fierce debate over justice.

The tragedy unfolded April 2 at Kuykendall Stadium during a high school track meet. Police say Anthony, a Centennial High student, was sitting in Memorial High School’s team tent when Metcalf, a 17-year-old junior at Memorial, asked him to leave.

Witnesses heard Anthony warn, “Touch me and see what happens,” before he pulled a knife and stabbed Metcalf in the chest. As officers detained him, Anthony allegedly said, “I’m not alleged. I did it,” while asking if Metcalf was OK and if he could claim self-defense, per court records.

Metcalf died in his twin brother Hunter’s arms despite efforts to save him.

The Frisco Independent School District’s choice to let Anthony graduate—though not attend the ceremony—has hit the community hard. “We are proud to share that Karmelo Anthony will graduate and receive his high school diploma, and that his academic achievements will not be disrupted,” said Dominique Alexander, president of the Next Generation Action Network (NGAN), which represents Anthony’s family.

“NGAN has worked diligently alongside the Anthony family’s legal team to bring about this fair and student-focused resolution.”

Metcalf’s family is devastated. Jeff Metcalf, Austin’s father, described his son as a 4.0 student, MVP linebacker, and college football prospect.

“My son is gone, and he’ll never come home again,” Jeff told Fox News.

“This person made a bad choice and affected both his family and my family forever.”

The idea that Anthony can move forward with a diploma feels like a slap in the face.

Collin County District Attorney Greg Willis, overseeing the case, emphasized its gravity. “This is a very serious case, as all murder cases are,” Willis told Fox News.

“Our office is committed to seeking justice for Austin and his family. Self-defense is a very high bar to meet, and we believe the facts in this case do not support it.”

His stance casts doubt on Anthony’s claim that Metcalf’s alleged push justified the stabbing.

Frisco ISD Superintendent Mike Waldrip addressed rumors about Anthony attending the ceremony, calling them “needless fearmongering.” “No student who commits a serious criminal offense is permitted to participate in the graduation ceremony,” he told WFAA. Yet allowing Anthony to graduate at all has fueled anger, with many arguing it downplays a brutal act.

NGAN claims Anthony acted in self-defense and says he was relocated due to death threats after his release on a reduced $250,000 bond with an ankle monitor.

The Metcalf family, meanwhile, has endured three swatting incidents. For Frisco, one question burns: How can a confessed killer walk away with a diploma while a family grieves a stolen life?

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