A female CEO has claimed that a teen boy who was fatally stabbed at a track meet in Texas was bullying the 17-year-old accused of killing him.
Stephanie Crutchfield, the owner and CEO of several financial help businesses, left the claim on a donation page for Karmelo Anthony, who is charged with the murder of Austin Metcalf, 17, at at the Kuykendall Stadium in Frisco.
She wrote: ‘Let’s get this baby home. I have a young black son as well, and I live in Collin County. This baby was bullied and was defending himself, I know it’s more to this story. I’m praying for you and your family. Please let me know how else I can help.’
There is no evidence that Metcalf was bullying Anthony. Police have said Anthony stabbed Metcalf in the heart, killing him, after Metcalf told him he was sitting in the wrong chair at the match between their two schools last week.
Crutchfield, who donated $1,000 to Anthony, later doubled down on her support of Anthony, adding: ‘ NO I don’t agree with what he did, but it’s more to this story!
‘This kid had a good future ahead of him as well, and he deserves a great defense attorney!’
Anthony’s family has claimed in the GiveSendGo donation page that ‘the narrative being spread’ about Austin’s killing is ‘false, unjust, and harmful.’
‘As a family of faith, we are deeply grateful for all of your support during this trying period. Your prayers and assistance mean more to us now more than ever,’ the statement added.
The donation page for him has collected more than $170,000 as of Monday afternoon EST.
DailyMail.com has reached out to Crutchfield for comment on this story.
It comes as Frisco police have been forced to deny viral unfounded rumors about Metcalf’s tragic death.
A viral post that falsely claimed to be from the Collin County Medical Examiner’s Office said Metcalf died from an ‘MDMA drug overdose’ and that a stab wound was a secondary factor.
‘The Frisco Police Department is aware of an image circulating on social media purporting to be a report from the Collin County Medical Examiner’s Office,’ police said in a statement Friday. ‘At this time, the report has NOT been released. Therefore, any information currently found online is FALSE.’
Shilson also denied a fake viral post that claimed to be from him and claimed Metcalf was stabbed during a ‘mutual combat altercation’ after he ‘sucker punched’ Anthony. The hoax post also said Metcalf ‘smashed [Anthony]’s phone onto one of the bleachers.’
‘Beware of those taking to social media to deliberately spread misinformation, hate, fear and division,’ Shilson said, in reference to posts shared online highlighting that Metcalf is white and Anthony is black.
‘Violence cannot be the go-to means that our young people use as their only way to resolve disputes. We must have conversations about what guides their decisions and motivations,’ the chief added.
Chief Shilson said his department will investigate the source of the misinformation under third-degree felony charges of impersonation, as reported by Click 2 Houston.
An arrest report says a confrontation between the two star football players began when Metcalf told Anthony he was sitting under another team’s pop-up tent and told him to move.
The two students from different high schools began fighting before Anthony unzipped his bag and reached in, telling Metcalf: ‘Touch me and see what happens.’
The report says Metcalf then ‘grabbed Anthony to tell him to move and Anthony pulled out … a black knife and stabbed Austin once in the chest.’
Anthony reportedly ran away before being arrested by responding officers.
He had apparently told a school resource officer: ‘I was protecting myself,’ and, ‘He put his hands on me.’
Anthony also asked an officer if what he did could be considered self-defense and asked whether the victim was going to be okay, per police.
He was charged with murder and faces 5 to 99 years in prison if convicted.
Metcalf’s twin brother Hunter was by his side and held him in his arms as he died.
‘I tried to whip around as fast as I could,’ a heartbroken Hunter told WFAA. ‘I looked at my brother and I’m not going to talk about the rest. I tried to help him.’
Hunter then called his parents, who rushed to Austin’s side but found him not breathing.
‘I could see all the blood, and I saw where the wound was, and I was very concerned, so I had to find his brother, and we rushed to the hospital. And we prayed, and it’s God’s plan, I don’t understand it, but they weren’t able to save him. This is murder,’ his father Jeff Metcalf said.
Metcalf told the Dallas Morning News of seeing his son’s body with a hole in it and described the youngster’s cold skin covered with blood.
After the incident occurred, the meet was suspended, the stadium was ‘immediately secured’, and students were sent back to their home campuses, according to Frisco officials.
Metcalf, a junior, was a star football player at Frisco’s Memorial High School and planned to be a college athlete. A GoFundMe set up for him says he was recently voted Most Valuable Player and had a 4.0 GPA at school.
Anthony, a senior, is also a star for the Centennial high school football team.
He is being held at Collin County Jail on a $1 million bond.
His attorney, Deric Walpole spoke to local NBC affiliate KXAS-TV outside the Colin County Jail in McKinney Texas on Friday and revealed that Anthony is claiming self-defense in the alleged murder.
‘I know that my client said it was self-defense. I don’t have any reason to disbelieve that, but I need to develop facts, talk to people, and figure out what’s going on before I make any statements about what I think happened,’ Walpole said.
‘I don’t have any reason to think it wasn’t self-defense at this time.’
Walpole added that he only had a few hours to speak with Anthony but confirmed he’d be requesting a bond hearing next week.
