The teenager accused of murdering high school track star Austin Metcalf is permitted to graduate from his Frisco, Texas, high school even though he is facing first-degree murder charges, as per a report.
Karmelo Anthony will receive his diploma from Centennial High School, which is part of the Frisco Independent School District, WFAA reports. Graduation for the students from this high school is scheduled for May 22.
Anthony will not be part of the graduation ceremony, according to the report.
“We are proud to announce that Karmelo Anthony will graduate with his high school diploma and that his academic progress will remain unaffected,” stated Dominique Alexander, President of the Next Generation Action Network (NGAN) and a representative for Anthony’s family.
Karmelo Anthony, left, is charged with murdering Austin Metcalf, right. (FOX 4/Jeff Metcalf)
“NGAN has worked diligently alongside the Anthony family’s legal team to bring about this fair and student-focused resolution,” he said. “This is a moment of dignity for Karmelo and a reminder of the power of advocacy done right.”
He also called Anthony’s detractors bigots, in what has become a racially charged public discussion.
Dominique Alexander of the Next Generation Action Network hosted a news conference on behalf of Karmelo Anthony’s family on April 17. (Next Generation Action Network via Facebook)
“Because these racist bigots try to prevent us from standing up for our baby, our boy, he should be afforded the same rights that Kyle Rittenhouse had, Daniel Penny and all the people who have claimed whatever their defense was. He should be afforded the same right,” Alexander said.
“What [Jeff Metcalf] has felled [sic] into is the political operatives that want to make this thing a political thing of hate and yet bigotry and yet racism,” he said of Austin’s father. “We have conservative operatives that have been posting nonstop about this case.”
NGAN and Frisco ISD declined to comment.
Anthony’s attorney, Mike Howard, did not return a comment request.
Jeff Metcalf did not return a comment request.
