Karmelo Anthony, the 17-year-old accused of fatally stabbing high school athlete Austin Metcalf at a Texas track meet earlier this month, has now changed legal representation ahead of his upcoming court appearance.

The tragic incident unfolded on April 2 at Kuykendall Stadium in Frisco, where Anthony—who attends Centennial High School—was involved in an altercation with Metcalf, a student and track athlete from Frisco Memorial High School. According to authorities, the confrontation began when Metcalf asked Anthony to move from a tent reserved for Frisco Memorial students.

Although the two teenagers had reportedly never met before, their exchange quickly escalated. Witnesses claim Anthony pulled a knife from his backpack and stabbed Metcalf in the chest. The wound proved fatal. The young athlete, remembered as a rising football star with a bright future, died in the arms of his twin brother, Hunter, who had been present at the scene.

Anthony was arrested and charged with first-degree murder. He remains in custody at Collin County Jail with a $1 million bond.

As his bond hearing looms—scheduled for Monday, April 14—Anthony’s family has retained Mike Howard, a Dallas-based criminal defense attorney, as lead counsel. This change comes after the departure of his previous legal representatives, Billy Clark and Kim T. Cole, who had initially taken on his case.

The nonprofit Next Generation Action Network (NGAN), which has been publicly supporting Anthony and his family, issued a statement over the weekend confirming the legal transition.

“The family of Karmelo Anthony has officially retained Attorney Mike Howard as lead counsel in Karmelo’s legal defense,” NGAN stated. “We are grateful for the early support from Attorneys Billy Clark and Kim Cole, and we continue working to build a strong legal team for the fight ahead.”

“Karmelo deserves what every citizen deserves: fair treatment and full rights under the law. We won’t stop fighting until he gets it,” the statement concluded.

Public response to the case has remained divided. While many mourn the senseless loss of Austin Metcalf, others have contributed to an online fundraiser supporting Anthony and his family during what supporters describe as a “difficult and challenging time.” The fundraiser has surpassed $400,000 in donations, further igniting debate and drawing attention from across the country.

On Saturday morning, Austin Metcalf’s loved ones gathered at Hope Fellowship Frisco East for a private funeral service. A quiet burial followed shortly after. The family has largely remained out of the public eye, requesting privacy as they grieve the heartbreaking loss of their son.

The events of April 2 continue to reverberate throughout the community, raising painful questions about school safety, youth violence, and justice. As the legal process begins to unfold, both families face very different paths forward—one through grief, the other through the courts.

Rest in peace, Austin Metcalf.