Just hours after a controversial fundraising campaign for convicted murderer Karmelo Anthony disappeared from GiveSendGo, a new effort emerged online that has left many Americans stunned.
Activists supporting Anthony have launched a petition demanding the arrest of Hunter Metcalf, the twin brother of Austin Metcalf, the 17-year-old Texas student Anthony was convicted of murdering.
The petition, which has gained little traction and remains well under 100 signatures, claims Hunter should be charged because he allegedly contributed to the confrontation that ended with his brother’s death.
There is one major problem with that claim.
A jury already heard the evidence.
And they rejected it.
Anthony was convicted of murder for the April 2, 2025 stabbing death of Austin Metcalf at Frisco’s Kuykendall Stadium. During the trial, Anthony’s legal team argued that he acted in self-defense. Witness after witness testified otherwise.
Multiple eyewitnesses, including testimony presented by Anthony’s own defense, indicated that Anthony was the aggressor in the confrontation. Jurors also heard testimony that neither Austin nor Hunter Metcalf bullied, threatened, or “ganged up” on Anthony.
As the self-defense argument collapsed under the weight of testimony, Anthony’s attorneys shifted gears and asked jurors to consider the lesser charge of manslaughter.
That effort failed as well.
Jurors not only convicted Anthony of murder, they also rejected claims that the killing occurred in a moment of sudden passion rather than as a deliberate act.
This week, Anthony was sentenced to 35 years in prison and will become eligible for parole after serving half that sentence.
Yet despite the verdict, activists are now attempting to redirect blame toward the victim’s surviving brother.
The petition frames the case as evidence of racial injustice and alleges that Hunter Metcalf’s actions contributed to Austin’s death. Supporters are also demanding the release of all available video footage from the incident.
Critics argue the petition is less about seeking justice and more about rewriting the facts after a jury has already spoken.
The trial lasted days. Witnesses testified under oath. Evidence was examined. Jurors deliberated and reached a unanimous conclusion.
Now, with Anthony headed to prison and his fundraising campaign reportedly removed from public view, some supporters appear unwilling to accept the outcome.
For the Metcalf family, the petition adds another painful chapter to a tragedy that has already taken a son’s life and forever altered the lives of those left behind.