Karmelo Anthony, 17, has been the goal of public ire since his arrest again in April for allegedly fatally stabbing 17-year-old Austin Metcalf at a highschool monitor championship in Frisco, Texas. The homicide however, you possibly can inform from the images of each boys the place a big a part of that ire is derived from. The city, with a inhabitants of roughly 210,000, is comprised of almost 49% white residents and simply over 9% Black residents. These demographic statistics are screaming silently about how a northeastern Texas neighborhood would possibly really feel in regards to the racial dynamics at play.
Anthony was arrested in April following the incident and was confined to deal with arrest after his preliminary bond was lowered from $1 million to $250,000. Nevertheless, now issues are considerably extra perilous than they have been earlier than.
In line with CBSNews, Collin County District Legal professional Greg Willis has simply introduced {that a} grand jury has introduced down an indictment for first-degree homicide towards the latest highschool graduate. Willis famous that he and his group have spent a number of weeks presenting proof, and the grand jury has determined that first-degree homicide was an affordable cost. Anthony has maintained from the minute he was handcuffed that he acted strictly in self-defense, claiming that Metcalf bodily attacked him first, and he had no selection however to defend himself.
“We all know this case has struck a deep nerve — right here in Collin County and past. That’s comprehensible. When one thing like this occurs at a faculty occasion, it shakes folks to the core,” Willis mentioned in a information launch. “However the justice system works finest when it strikes with steadiness and with precept. That’s what we’re dedicated to. And that’s precisely what this case deserves.”
Austin’s father, Jeff Metcalf, additionally launched a press release by way of WFAA regrading the grand jury’s resolution:
“With the primary diploma homicide indictment, it now goes into the court docket system,” Jeff Metcalf mentioned. “I totally consider that justice will likely be served for Austin Metcalf. I stay up for the forthcoming trial. However it is going to by no means carry my son again.“
Mike Howard, the legal professional representing Anthony, launched a press release in response to the costs which have been introduced down on his consumer.
By way of WFAA:
“Karmelo and his household are assured within the justice system and the folks of Collin County to be truthful and neutral,” Howard mentioned. “In fact, Karmelo appears to be like ahead to his day in court docket. It’s solely in a trial {that a} jury will hear the complete story, one that features essential information and context that the grand jury merely didn’t get to listen to.”
“We anticipate that when the complete story is heard, the prosecution will be unable to rule out the cheap doubt that Karmelo Anthony could have acted in self protection,” Howard mentioned. “Self protection is a basic proper assured each American.”
If the proof really exhibits that Karmelo was within the improper, then he should face the results of his actions however we hope and pray that the will get a good trial from a system that’s notoriously skeptical towards Black males charged with violent crimes. BOSSIP will proceed our protection of this case because the trial proceeds.
