“We didn’t know what was going on … We didn’t know if he was gonna pull out a — we didn’t know what we didn’t know.”
President and founder of the Next Generation Action Network (NGAN) Dominique Alexander, who is a representative for Karmelo Anthony's family, defended removing Austin Metcalf's father from a press conference in support of Anthony, indicating that he didn't know if the man "was gonna put out a" gun. Alexander cut himself off before saying naming the weapon. Anthony killed Metcalf in a dispute over seating at a high school track meet.
"The Anthony family didn't even know that Austin's dad was even in the facility. They didn’t know that Austin’s dad was here until he was actually removed by DPD. One of our security people asked him to move back — he looked back at him like he was entitled or like he didn’t have to move," Alexander said.
"We didn’t even know who he was at the time," Alexander said, noting that a member of the press said that the man was the father of Metcalf. "I said, I know you’re lying. Like, what? He can’t be here. And so what we initiated is making sure that we secured the facility," Alexander continued.
"How do we know what he came here for? He didn’t come and ask or come to us and say — he just stood there. We didn’t know what was going on. We didn’t know if we started the press conference — and I’m not accusing anyone of anything — We didn’t know if he was gonna pull out a — we didn’t know what we didn’t know."
The Dallas-based activist group called the police to have Metcalf’s father Jeff removed from the mid-April press conference. At the press conference, Alexander said it was "disrespectful" for Metcalf’s father to show up.
"The father being at this press conference, these are my words, don't quote anybody, is a disrespect to the dignity of his son," he said. Jeff Metcalf shook the officer's hand and left the scene without incident.
"He knows that it is inappropriate to be near this family. But he did it," Alexander added. "Actions speak louder than words." Anthony, who has a court order not to have contact with the Metcalf family, was not in attendance.
17-year-old Metcalf was stabbed to death earlier in April at a Texas track meet. Anthony, the suspect arrested and charged with Metcalf’s death, stabbed Metcalf after an altercation arose over Anthony sitting under the wrong team’s tent. Anthony told officers when he was arrested that he did it and has claimed it was in self-defense.
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