A Texas teenager accused of stabbing another high schooler to death at a track meet will not face the death penalty.
Karmelo Anthony, 17, is charged with murder in the April 2 stabbing death of Austin Metcalf. District Attorney Greg Willis told WFAA that his office has not yet received the case as police are continuing to investigate. Willis, however did rule out the death penalty in the case.
"The Supreme Court has said not only can you not seek the death penalty against someone who committed a crime when they're 17, you can't even get them life without parole. That would not be something we could do even if we wanted to," Willis told the station.
The incident happened during a track meet on April 2. WFAA reported that witnesses told police that Anthony, a student at Centennial High School, was sitting under Memorial High School's tent. Metcalf asked him to move.
NBC 5 reported that about 40 witnesses saw the incident and that as soon as Metcalf asked Anthony to leave his team's tent, Anthony immediately opened his bag and reached into it, as he told Metcalf, "Touch me and see what happens."
According to the report, when Metcalf touched Anthony, he stabbed him in the chest and ran away.
"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," defense attorney Deric Walpole told NBC 5. "I don't have any reason to think it wasn't self-defense at this time."
Metcalf's family released the following statement to NBC 5: "My son and I are profoundly thankful for the overwhelming support, prayers, and love we have received. Tragedies inevitably raise questions that remain unanswered. We will entrust the detectives handling the investigation to determine the circumstances surrounding Austin's passing while our family, Hunter, and I prioritize commemorating and honoring Austin. We extend our gratitude to everyone who has supported us in numerous ways and helped sustain our family during this difficult time."
