Wait. Let’s get one thing straight before we even dive in. If you’re here because you thought NBA legend Carmelo Anthony was starting a crowdfunding page, you’ve got the wrong guy. This isn't about basketball. It’s about a 17-year-old high school student from Frisco, Texas, whose name is spelled almost exactly the same—Karmelo Anthony. And honestly, the story behind the GiveSendGo Karmelo Anthony campaign is a lot more intense, and a lot more controversial, than anything happening on a court.
It started in April 2025. A track meet at David Kuykendall Stadium turned into a scene of absolute chaos. There was an altercation—a stupid, tragic argument over a tent—that ended with 17-year-old Austin Metcalf being fatally stabbed. Karmelo Anthony was the one holding the knife.
The Crowdfunding War
Naturally, people took sides immediately.
GoFundMe originally hosted a fundraiser for Anthony, but they pulled it down fast. They have a strict policy: you can't raise money for the legal defense of a violent crime. That’s when the family moved over to GiveSendGo.
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If you haven’t heard of GiveSendGo, it’s basically the "anti-cancel culture" version of crowdfunding. They don’t care if the charges are violent; they lean hard into the "innocent until proven guilty" angle. Within weeks, the GiveSendGo Karmelo Anthony fund didn't just meet its goals—it blew past them. We’re talking over $515,000 by May 2025. People were donating $5, $100, even $3,000 at a time.
The comments section on that page became a total war zone. GiveSendGo eventually had to shut the comments off because of the "unacceptable volume of racist and derogatory remarks." It was ugly.
Why the backlash?
It wasn't just about the crime itself. The optics were complicated. Austin Metcalf was white. Karmelo Anthony is Black. That alone set social media on fire, with some comparing Anthony to Emmett Till and others calling him a cold-blooded murderer.
Jacob Wells, the co-founder of GiveSendGo, didn't back down. He actually compared the case to Kyle Rittenhouse and Daniel Penny. His logic? Everyone deserves a legal defense, regardless of the narrative.
Misinformation and the "Luxurious" House
Then things got weird.
A report started circulating—it even hit the Daily Mail—claiming the Anthony family used the donation money to buy a $900,000 "luxurious" house and a new Cadillac. People were livid. How could they spend "blood money" on a mansion while awaiting a murder trial?
The problem? It wasn't true.
Kala Hayes, Karmelo’s mother, had to hold a press conference to set the record straight. They hadn't even touched the money yet. The "new house" was actually a relocation for safety because the family was getting bombarded with death threats and "swatting" calls. Both the Anthony and Metcalf families were being harassed by online trolls who had nothing better to do than make a tragedy worse.
Where the case stands now
Karmelo Anthony isn't in jail right now. His bond was reduced from a massive $1 million down to $250,000. Judge Angela Tucker pointed to his clean record and his status as a high school athlete when she made the call.
He’s currently under house arrest. He’s wearing an ankle monitor. He was even banned from his own graduation ceremony at Centennial High School, though he was allowed to earn his diploma.
The trial is set for June 1, 2026.
His defense is sticking to a "self-defense" narrative. They claim the fight started because Metcalf and his brother tried to force Anthony out of a tent during a rain delay. Anthony allegedly told police, "I was protecting myself," and was "crying hysterically" during his arrest.
The Breakdown of the Funds
So, where is that half-million dollars actually going? According to the family and GiveSendGo:
- Legal Fees: This is the big one. Expert witnesses and high-end defense attorneys aren't cheap.
- Security: This includes the relocation costs to get away from the harassment.
- Living Expenses: Because Anthony’s father lost his job due to the fallout, the fund is reportedly helping with basic stability.
- Counseling: For the family members dealing with the trauma of the event and the subsequent public execution of their reputation.
It’s a mess. There’s no other way to put it. You have two families whose lives are completely destroyed over a confrontation that lasted maybe two minutes.
What You Should Know
If you're following the GiveSendGo Karmelo Anthony situation, stay skeptical of what you see on X (formerly Twitter). The FBI had to get involved because someone was literally impersonating the Frisco Police Chief to spread fake autopsy reports.
If you want the truth, look at the court filings. Don't trust a screenshot of a "mansion" that was actually a Zillow listing from three years ago.
Next Steps for Staying Informed:
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- Monitor the Collin County court records for updates on the June 2026 trial date.
- Check the official GiveSendGo page for verified updates from the family's legal team rather than third-party news blogs.
- Avoid engaging with "protest" groups on either side that use this tragedy to push broader political agendas; the Metcalf family themselves have asked these groups to stay away.
- Verify any "new evidence" against the official police affidavits released by the Frisco PD.
The case is a reminder that in 2026, the court of public opinion moves a lot faster than the actual court of law. Whether you think it’s self-defense or murder, the money is there, the trial is coming, and the internet isn't going to let this one go anytime soon.