
Texas authorities have video of Austin Metcalf, Karmelo Anthony confrontation before fatal stabbing
The release of the video evidence could determine if Karmelo Anthony's self-defense claims are substantiated.
Authorities have reportedly collected video evidence of the confrontation between two Texas teens that resulted in a fatal stabbing during a high school track meet in Frisco, Texas, on April 2.
Karmelo Anthony, 17, has been charged with first-degree murder in the death of Austin Metcalf, 17. Police said Anthony allegedly confessed to the killing on claims of self-defense. The release of the video evidence could be key material for the outcome of the case.
Dominique Alexander of the Next Generation Action Network, a civil rights organization, informed the public during a press conference on April 8 that investigators "have collected video" of the fatal confrontation and urged the community to stop spreading misinformation about the case online.
Anthony has been held in custody on a $1 million bail for allegedly stabbing Metcalf to death during a track meet at Kuykendall Stadium. According to a police report, Metcalf asked Anthony to leave a tent set up for Metcalf's track team. Anthony reportedly refused to leave the tent, which sparked a confrontation between the pair, who were on opposing teams. As the altercation escalated, Anthony allegedly reached into his bag, pulled out a knife, and stabbed Metcalf to death. Authorities said the defendant confessed to the killing in an interview and claimed he stabbed Metcalf in an act of self-defense, as indicated in the report.
One witness said Metcalf touched Anthony, while another said he grabbed Anthony during the confrontation, according to the report.
The incident has since garnered national attention not only due to the tragic loss of a young athlete but also because the case has sparked discussions about race and fairness, as Anthony is black and Metcalf is white. Both families have received substantial financial support through fundraisers.
Earlier this week, Collin County District Attorney Greg Willis said Anthony will not face the death penalty or life in prison without the possibility of parole because he allegedly committed the crime as a juvenile. Defenders of Anthony have claimed he is a victim of systemic racism and demanded for his bail to be lowered.
False Karmelo Anthony claims, fake Austin Metcalf autopsy drive Frisco stabbing misinformation surge
In the wake of the fatal stabbing at a Frisco high school track meet, the CBS News Texas I-Team found a surge of misinformation has swept through social media platforms, causing confusion and fear.
High-profile X accounts (formerly Twitter), including @EndWokeness and @LibsofTikTok, quickly amplified the incident just hours after it occurred on April 2, claiming it received "zero national outrage" and didn't "fit the narrative." These posts garnered nearly 50 million views.
Fabricated details and a fake Austin Metcalf autopsy report
Soon after, a fake X account posing as the Frisco Police Chief began disseminating fabricated details about the investigation. The next day, a fake autopsy report surfaced on Facebook, falsely claiming drugs were involved. The disinformation continued to spread, with fake Instagram screenshots of guns further fueling anger and uncertainty.
The CBS News Confirm team, along with law enforcement, confirmed these social media posts to be fabricated.
While most misinformation posted online is not a crime, impersonating a police officer is. The Frisco Police Department, along with the FBI, is investigating the fake X account that impersonated the police chief.
Tracking down the original creators of misinformation is challenging, as people post anonymously, the content spreads quickly, and original posts can be deleted or edited long before anyone figures out who is behind them.
Changes in Meta may have contributed to Facebook fake news
Dr. Daxton "Chip" Stewart, a journalism professor at Texas Christian University specializing in social media and free speech, explained that while the spread of disinformation online isn't new, recent changes by Meta—the parent company of Facebook and Instagram—have, in his opinion, exacerbated the problem.
Earlier this year, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced the end of the use of fact-checkers on their platforms, relying instead on users to flag misinformation through a feature called Community Notes, similar to what Elon Musk's social platform X uses. The official removal of third-party fact-checkers on Meta platforms happened earlier this month.
Threats against Karmelo Anthony's family and security at Austin Metcalf's funeral
The consequences of this disinformation on the fatal Frisco stabbing case have been severe.