() A representative for the family of Texas teen Karmelo Anthony, who allegedly fatally stabbed another teen, says they believe their son is innocent.
“I believe the Anthony family feels that, yes, Karmelo Anthony is innocent of this, and they are going to support Karmelo Anthony in this entire process and get him prepared,” Dominique Alexander told Wednesday.
He also said the family will stand behind him as the teen plans to present a self-defense claim.
Anthony has been charged with the murder of 17-year-old Austin Metcalf at a high school track meet. The two allegedly got into an altercation, which ended with Anthony allegedly stabbing Metcalf with a knife he had. Metcalf is said to have died in his twin brother’s arms.
The teen allegedly admitted to the crime, and even asked officers if his actions could be considered self-defense.
He was released from jail and put on house arrest shortly after his bond was reduced from $1 million to $250,000.
Texas law prohibits weapons on school grounds, but Alexander said the reason why the teen had a knife on him would be “answered in a court of law and jury.”
Anthony family raises half a million in donations
The family has raised more than $500,000 on a fundraising website and Alexander said that money was being used “properly.”
“This fund was created to support their family, to help them relocate, to pay for legal expenses, and I could tell you those funds are being used properly,” he said.
Alexander did not describe the Metcalf family as victims, saying instead that “any loss of life is a tragedy. Any child that loses his life is a tragedy, no matter the circumstance.”
When asked if Anthony feels any remorse for allegedly killing Metcalf, Alexander said he “never asked him that question.”
Comparing Karmelo Anthony to Kyle Rittenhouse
Alexander also held firm to comments he made comparing Anthony to Kyle Rittenhouse, who was acquitted of killing two men and injuring another at a Black Lives Matter protest after he pleaded self-defense.
“Whatever uproar it wants to create, Kyle Rittenhouse displayed, this was self defense. And all my correlation is, is that if Kyle Rittenhouse said self defense, Karmela Anthony has the rights to self defense,” Alexander said.
Victim’s father thrown out of Anthony family press event
Anthony’s family organized a news conference last month when the victim’s father Jeffrey Metcalf showed up “uninvited,” according to Alexander.
“We asked him, we tried to, literally, this press conference was delayed an entire hour. We asked him to leave several times,” he said.
Metcalf had said he attended the news conference to pray with the family, which Alexander disputed, saying the father did not express any such intent to staff who were present.
Alexander tried to clarify a previous comment that Metcalf “disrespected the dignity of his son” by attending the event by saying that his “emotions were high at that time.”
The father was eventually escorted out by police. He declined to discuss specifics or respond to Alexander’s claims, but told , “Truth will come out, and justice will prevail.”
