Following the devastating murder of a teenager at a track meet, some vile conspiracy theories are spreading online.
The incident took place in Frisco, Texas, on April 2 when 17-year-old Austin Metcalf was fatally stabbed in the chest, allegedly by fellow teen Karmelo Anthony.
The altercation happened at Kuykendall Stadium, where both teens were present for a track meet. According to Austin’s twin brother, Hunter, the trouble started when they noticed Anthony sitting under their team’s pop-up tent during a rain delay.
“We asked him to move. He started getting aggressive and talking reckless,” Hunter said.
Things escalated fast. When Austin stepped in, Anthony allegedly pulled a knife from his backpack and stabbed him in the chest. Hunter tried to stop the bleeding, but it was too late. Austin was rushed to a local hospital and pronounced dead shortly after.
Their mother, Meghan Metcalf, recalled: “He was holding the wound. He was trying to save his brother.”
“Just doesn’t make any sense,” she said. “Just because the kid was mad, my son is not here anymore, and I don’t understand it.”
Jeff Metcalf, Austin’s father, described his son as “a bright young man with a great future ahead of him. His smile would light up the room. His passion for football was unbelievable.”
Karmelo Anthony, a senior at Centennial High School, was arrested at the scene and charged with first-degree murder.
An arrest affidavit revealed Anthony’s chilling admission: “I’m not alleged, I did it.” He reportedly told police, “I was protecting myself. He put his hands on me.”
The tragedy has ignited a wildfire of rumors, misinformation, and conspiracy theories on social media.
Fake posts have claimed everything from a drug overdose being the true cause of death to false narratives about “mutual combat” between the boys, per the Daily Mail.
One manipulated image even presented a fabricated medical examiner’s report, falsely citing “MDMA drug overdose” as the cause of death. Police confirmed this report was “entirely false.”
In a firm response, the Frisco Police Department stated: “The Frisco Police Department is aware of an image circulating on social media purporting to be a report from the Collin County Medical Examiner’s Office. At this time, the report has NOT been released. Therefore, any information currently found online is FALSE.”
Even more disturbing, someone impersonated Frisco Police Chief David Shilson online, spreading a fake statement that claimed Metcalf “sucker punched” Anthony and “smashed [Anthony]’s phone onto one of the bleachers.”
The post triggered a joint investigation by the FBI and Frisco police.
In an official warning, Chief Shilson addressed the chaos: “Beware of those taking to social media to deliberately spread misinformation, hate, fear, and division. I ask everyone to be cautious of the inaccurate information that is circulating related to this incident, and to only trust information that comes from official releases and verified sources.”
Meanwhile, the internet hasn’t just been a breeding ground for misinformation—it’s also been a place of fundraising and support.
A GoFundMe for Austin Metcalf has raised over $300,000 to help his grieving family.