When a 17-year-old high school junior dies in his twin brother's arms at a track meet, the world stops spinning for a second. That's exactly what happened on April 2, 2025, at David Kuykendall Stadium in Frisco, Texas. Austin Metcalf, a star athlete at Memorial High School with a 4.0 GPA and a bright future, was fatally stabbed during a dispute under a team tent.
The immediate aftermath wasn't just grief. It was a digital explosion. Within hours, the Austin Metcalf GoFundMe page became a focal point for a community trying to process a tragedy that felt impossible. Honestly, when you look at how these things go viral, it’s usually about the money, but for the Metcalf family, it quickly became about surviving the fallout of a national culture war they never asked for.
The Story Behind the Austin Metcalf GoFundMe Page
There isn’t actually just one page. Two major GoFundMe campaigns emerged early on to support Austin’s family. One was started by his father, Jeff Metcalf, titled "Honoring Austin Metcalf: Help His Family Heal." The other was launched by Kari Ordas, the owner of a local pizzeria where Austin and his brother worked, specifically to help Austin’s mother, Meghan, and his twin, Hunter.
People showed up. In a big way. Combined, these fundraisers have seen thousands of donations, ranging from $5 to several thousand. The money was intended for funeral costs, a potential scholarship in Austin's name, and the legal battles that everyone knew were coming. But as the dollars climbed, so did the tension.
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Why this case is different
Usually, a fundraiser is just a fundraiser. This one turned into a battleground. While the Metcalf family was trying to bury their son, the family of the accused, Karmelo Anthony, launched their own campaign on GiveSendGo. Anthony, a student-athlete from Centennial High School, claimed self-defense. This created a weird, competitive crowdfunding environment that felt more like a political primary than a mourning process.
The Details of the Incident
Let’s get the facts straight because there’s been a ton of misinformation floating around on X (formerly Twitter) and TikTok. On that Wednesday morning in April, a rain delay had pushed everyone under tents. According to police reports, Austin told Anthony he needed to move out of the Memorial team’s tent.
Words were exchanged. Anthony allegedly reached into his bag and told Austin, "Touch me and see what happens." Austin pushed him to get him out of the tent. That’s when it happened. A single stab wound to the chest. Austin ran toward the bleachers, clutching his chest, before collapsing. Despite the efforts of athletic trainers and his own brother, he was pronounced dead shortly after reaching the hospital.
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The Misinformation Storm
It’s kinda wild how fast things get twisted. An account impersonating the Frisco Police Chief even posted a fake autopsy report that got millions of views. The FBI had to get involved. Then there were reports that the Anthony family bought a "luxurious" house with their donation money—which turned out to be false. They hadn't even withdrawn the funds at that point.
A Family Caught in the Middle
Jeff Metcalf has been remarkably vocal about one thing: he doesn't want his son's death to be a racial or political prop. He’s gone on record telling protest groups like "Protect White Americans" to back off. He literally told an organizer, "You're trying to create more race divide than bridging the gap."
That’s a heavy burden for a grieving father. He’s trying to manage a Austin Metcalf GoFundMe page that has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars while simultaneously being swatted at his home. Yes, you read that right. Both the Metcalf and Anthony families have dealt with "swatting" incidents and harassment so severe that both fathers had to leave their jobs.
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Legal Status and What's Next
Karmelo Anthony was originally held on a $1 million bond, but it was lowered to $250,000 by Judge Angela Tucker. He’s currently out on bond, wearing an ankle monitor. The trial is set for June 1, 2026. This means the Metcalf family is looking at a very long, very public road to "justice," whatever that looks like now.
Actionable Insights and Reality Checks
If you are following the Austin Metcalf GoFundMe page or the legal case, there are a few things you should keep in mind to stay informed without getting caught in the noise:
- Verify the Source: Only trust updates from the official GoFundMe pages organized by Jeff Metcalf or Kari Ordas. There have been several "copycat" or fake accounts looking to skim money off the tragedy.
- Follow Official Court Filings: The trial in Collin County District Court will be the only place where the actual evidence—including the surveillance video that the school district has been hesitant to release—will be fully scrutinized.
- Respect the Privacy Request: Both families have, at various points, asked for the media and the public to stop the harassment. While the case is public, the grief is private.
- Understand Texas Law: The defense is leaning hard on "Stand Your Ground" and self-defense. In Texas, the prosecution has to disprove a self-defense claim once it's raised, which is a high legal bar.
The money raised for Austin's family is a drop in the bucket compared to the emotional cost of a trial that won't even start until 2026. For now, the fundraisers serve as a buffer for a family that lost their income, their peace, and their son all in the span of one afternoon. If you're looking for the most direct way to support the family, stick to the verified links provided by the family on the main GoFundMe platform.
Keep an eye on the Collin County court calendar for late May 2026 for the first pre-trial motions. That will be the next major moment when new, verified facts about the stabbing are likely to emerge.