'Free Melo': Karmelo Anthony's friends, family promote merch in support of Austin Metcalf's admitted killer

Friends and relatives of 17-year-old Karmelo Anthony, the Texas high school student accused of fatally stabbing another teen, are promoting t-shirts with his face on them with slogans like “FreeMelo” and “#Justice4KarmeloAnthony.” When he was taken into custody after the fatal stabbing of Austin Metcalf at a Frisco High School track meet, Anthony admitted that he was the killer.

A website selling the shirts describes Anthony as “just a small town kid, raised in a loving two parent household,” and goes on to paint a portrait of him as a model youth.

“Karmelo, A 4.0 student. A football team captain. A leader, a protector, a role model. Karmelo Anthony is the kind of young man every parent hopes to raise. He speaks with respect. He takes care of his younger siblings and little cousins. He works hard, stays out of trouble, and carries himself with dignity,” the website states.

Anthony was arrested earlier this month after authorities said he stabbed fellow student Austin Metcalf during a confrontation at a high school track meet. According to police, the dispute began when Metcalf told Anthony he was sitting under the wrong team’s tent and asked him to leave. A witness claimed Anthony replied, “Touch me and see what happens,” before the altercation turned physical. Metcalf was fatally stabbed and died in the arms of his twin brother.

Anthony has been under house arrest in a $900,000 rental home located in a gated community, having been released on a $250,000 bond that was reduced from $1 million. The Daily Mail reported that the family also recently acquired a new vehicle. In court, Anthony's father said they intended to use the crowdsourced legal funds to move house amid "racist threats."

A fundraiser set up online for his legal expenses has raised more than $430,000. Some have questioned why those funds weren’t used to cover his bond, to which his parents responded that they’ve had trouble accessing the money and that much of it has gone toward legal fees.