An advocate for accused teen killer Karmelo Anthony and his family said it was “disrespectful” for the father of Anthony’s alleged murder victim to show up to the family’s recent press conference, where they were attempting to garner public sympathy for their son.
The Anthony family had orchestrated the press conference to address what they’ve called a "wave of falsehoods" about the family and what happened that fateful day earlier this month when Anthony, a 17-year-old black teen, reportedly pulled a knife from his backpack and stabbed 17-year-old Austin Metcalf in the chest following a seating dispute at a high school track meet. Metcalf, who was white, bled out in his twin brother’s arms before help could arrive, and was pronounced dead shortly afterward at a local hospital.
Anthony, also 17, was released from jail last week ahead of his hearing on a $250,000 bond, much lower than the original $1 million bond he’d been placed under after being arrested and admitting to police that he’d stabbed Metcalf. The killing, the media's response, and the court proceedings sparked a national debate over whether the media and the justice system would have been nearly as sympathetic toward a white boy accused of violently murdering a black teen. The controversy was only stirred up further after an online fundraiser for Anthony's "legal defense" raked in more than $460,000, far and above a similar campaign in support of the Metcalf family.
The Anthony family's press conference was scheduled for 11 a.m. Thursday morning at the headquarters of Next Generation Action Network, a Dallas-based group advocating on the family's behalf, but was delayed when the slain boy’s father, Jeff Metcalf, showed up. NGAN leaders called the police and had him escorted from the building, saying they would not continue with the press conference - which included Anthony's parents, Andrew Anthony & Kala Hayes, but not the accused killer himself - until Metcalf was gone.
Jeff Metcalf, father of sIain Austin Metcalf, escorted out of the Next Generation Action Network (NGAN) conference.
— Southern FFA Family (@FFAFamily) April 17, 2025
Karmelo Anthony’s parents, Andrew Anthony & Kala Hayes, are holding a live press conference & refused to speak in front of him?!
What exactly are they scared of?! pic.twitter.com/9kQdd6wZnx
Related: Karmelo Anthony's 'Legal Defense' Fund Will Be Used For a New Home & 'Security,' Family Admits
NGAN President Dominique Alexander accused Metcalf, whose son was stabbed to death just two weeks ago, of being “disrespectful” for interrupting his son’s accused murderer’s press conference.
Karmelo Anthony presser starts off by attacking Austin Metcalf’s dad: "It is disrespectful" of him coming here pic.twitter.com/1iXhg7IfnK
— End Wokeness (@EndWokeness) April 17, 2025
“It just shows you all the character. He was not invited, he knows that it’s inappropriate to be near this family, but he did it. And so I say to people, actions speak louder than words, okay?” Alexander said.
“What he has felled into is the political operatives that wanna make this thing a political thing of hate and yet bigotry and yet racism,” he continued.
Interpret that sentence how you will, and if you can.