Karmelo Anthony’s Texas Bond Release Sparks MAGA Anger

Some supporters of President Donald Trump’s Make America Great Again (MAGA) movement have reacted with fury after Karmelo Anthony, who is accused of murdering fellow high school student Austin Metcalf, was able to bond out after a judge on Monday reduced his bond from $1 million to $250,000.

Newsweek contacted Anthony’s attorney Mike Howard for comment via email on Tuesday outside of regular office hours.

Why It Matters

On April 2 Metcalf, a 17-year-old student at Memorial High School in Frisco, a northern suburb of Dallas, was stabbed to death during a track event at the Kuykendall Stadium according to authorities.

Anthony, a 17-year-old Centennial High School student and football player, was arrested and charged with first degree murder. His legal team insist he acted in self-defense.

The case has sparked some racial divisions online, with Anthony being Black while Metcalf was white.

What To Know

On Monday Judge Angela Tucker reduced Anthony’s bond from $1 million to $250,000, which his family were able to pay leading to him being freed from custody.

More than $420,000 has been raised on crowd funding website GiveSendGo to support “Karmelo and his family.”

Charlie Kirk, founder and CEO of Trump supporting campaign group Turning Point USA, shared an X post from Minister Dominique Alexander, a self-styled “civil and human rights activist,” welcoming Anthony’s release.

Kirk said: “Karmelo Anthony brutally murdered Austin Metcalf, and the support for him in the black community is growing. Murdering a white kid in cold blood seems acceptable to some.”

In his original post Alexander shared a pictured of Anthony adding: “Karmelo Anthony is SAFE at home. This moment is a reminder that a community united can never be divided. The journey ahead is long, but today—we celebrate a victory for justice, for family, and for the power of people coming together to protect our youth.”

CJ Pearson, co-chair of the Republican Party youth advisory council, wrote: “Karmelo Anthony murdered a young man in cold blood yet somehow, he’s walking the streets of Texas a free man? Now imagine if he were white and the victim was black.

“BLM would be burning down whole cities. This is a DISGRACE. Black or not, I REFUSE to defend this or him.”

Gunther Eagleman, a Trump supporting X user with 1.3 million followers, wrote: “Karmelo Anthony should never see the light of day again, but the hacktivist of a judge cut his bail substantially so he gets to enjoy life outside of prison until he works through the court. It’s a f***** disgrace.”

Other commentators spoke out in Anthony’s defense with a number comparing him to Kyle Rittenhouse, who was found not guilty of murder during a riot in Kenosha County, Wisconsin, in August 2020 after a jury concluded he shot two people dead in self-defense.

Bishop Talbert Swan, a pastor and activist with 216,000 X followers, said: “Y’all said 17 yr old Kyle Rittenhouse was justified in killing two people with an AR 15 because he felt threatened.

“17 yr old Karmelo Anthony was defending himself when he killed Austin Metcalf with a knife and y’all think he deserves to go to prison. I wonder whyTE.”

Another X user commented: “Kyle Rittenhouse can be 17 with an AR-15, Karmelo Anthony CAN’T be 17 with a knife. Make it make sense.”

According to the arrest report, an altercation began when Metcalf asked Anthony to move from under Memorial’s pop-up tent, at which point one witness said Anthony reached into a bag and replied: “Touch me and see what happens.”

The arrest report said Anthony confessed to the police, saying: “I’m not alleged. I did it.”

The report said he later told the police: “I was protecting myself,” adding, “He put his hands on me.”

Speaking with the New York Post, Anthony’s father said his son had been “provoked” and “was not the aggressor.”

What People Are Saying

According to Fox News defense attorney Mike Howard told Monday’s hearing: “Given that Karmelo has no prior criminal history… given that this young man has not been in any sort of trouble before, $1 million is not necessary.

“This family needs to be able to survive. There’s been a tremendous amount of pressure. I think at this point, living in a gated community, given everything, the safety of their younger children is very warranted. Security details and criminal defense are not cheap.”

What Happens Next

Under the terms of his release Anthony has been placed under house arrest, fitted with an ankle monitor and banned from social media. His trial date has yet to be announced.