COLLIN COUNTY, TX – The 17-year-old charged with fatally stabbing another teen during a high school track meet earlier this month is now out on bail following a judge’s decision to significantly reduce his bond.
On Monday, a Collin County judge lowered Karmelo Anthony’s bond from $1 million to $250,000.
His defense attorneys argued that the original amount was unusually high given Anthony’s lack of criminal history and requested it be reduced to $150,000.
Prosecutors opposed the change, saying the $1 million figure was standard in local murder cases.
The judge ultimately settled on a $250,000 bond.
If his family posts the amount, Anthony will be released under strict conditions, including house arrest at his parents’ home and the use of an ankle monitor. If he leaves the residence without permission, he will be returned to custody.
Anthony is accused of stabbing 17-year-old Austin Metcalf once in the chest during a track meet at Kuykendall Stadium on April 2.
Police say the stabbing followed a brief confrontation in the bleachers between the two students.
Anthony claims he acted in self-defense after being grabbed by Metcalf.
A fundraiser set up for his legal fees on GiveSendGo describes the teen as having been “wrongfully charged with murder.” As of Tuesday morning, it had raised over $429,000.
Metcalf’s funeral was held this past Saturday. A separate GoFundMe has been established to help his family cover funeral costs.
