The death of Austin Metcalf has sent shockwaves throughout the United States.
In an age dominated by social media, rumors and unverified claims about what truly happened at Kuykendall Stadium have spread like wildfire.
Among them are outrageous conspiracy theories โ sparking a response from both local police and the FBI.
Misleading post
Seventeen-year-old athlete and honor student Austin Metcalf tragically lost his life after beingย stabbed in the chest, allegedly by another 17-year-old, Karmelo Anthony, following a heated confrontation on April 2.
According to Metcalfโs family, the two teens had never met before, and what began as a verbal dispute escalated quickly when Anthony pulled out a knife.
In the aftermath of Austin Metcalfโs tragic death, a wave of fraudulent social media accounts pretending to be the local police chief and the medical examinerโs office have surfaced, spreading misinformation about the circumstances surrounding his death.
One particularly disturbing viral post falsely claimed that Metcalf actually died from a drug overdose, as reported by theย New York Post.
Another misleading post, impersonating the Frisco police chief, falsely suggested that Metcalf was killed after allegedly overpowering Karmelo Anthony in what was described as โmutual combat.โ
A manipulated image, which falsely claimed to be an official report from the Collin County Medical Examinerโs Office, circulated online stating that Austin Metcalfโs primary cause of death was an โMDMA drug overdose,โ with the stab wound listed as secondary. Police have confirmed that this report is entirely false.
โThe Frisco Police Department is aware of an image circulating on social media purporting to be a report from the Collin County Medical Examinerโs Office. At this time, the report has NOT been released. Therefore, any information currently found online is FALSE,โ the department stated in anย Facebook post.
Impersonating Frisco Police Chief
Additionally, a fake social media account impersonating Frisco Police Chief David Shilson has sparked a criminal investigation by both the FBI and Frisco police, according to WFAA-TV. The fraudulent account spread a fabricated statement quoting the police chief, claiming Metcalf had โsucker punchedโ Karmelo Anthony first and had โsmashed [Anthony]โs phone onto one of the bleachers,โ leading to what was described as a โmutual combat altercation.โ
In response to the spreading misinformation, Frisco Police Chief David Shilson issued a stern warning:
โBeware of those taking to social media to deliberately spread misinformation, hate, fear, and division.
โI 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.โ
Even Anthonyโs own family has condemned some fake accounts. In a statement, they clarified that one GoFundMe campaign claiming to raise money based on these false narratives was a scam.
Despite doubts surrounding the legitimacy of some fundraisers, Anthony and his family have managed to raise nearly $200,000 for his legal defense.
โThe narrative being spread is false, unjust, and harmful,โ the Anthony family stated on the crowdfunding platform GiveSendGo.
โAs a family of faith, we are deeply grateful for all of your support during this trying period. Your prayers and assistance mean more to us now more than ever.โ
Hired famous Texas attorneys
The funds raised through the fundraiser will allow the family to hire two prominent Texas attorneys, known for handling racially sensitive cases, including securing a settlement for a 14-year-old girl involved in the controversial 2015ย McKinney pool partyย incident.
โKarmelo, like all citizens of the United States, is entitled to a fair and impartial legal process; we are committed to ensuring that Karmeloโs rights are indeed protected throughout each phase of the criminal justice system,โ said Clark and Cole in a statement.
Anthony is currently held in Collin County Jail, facing a first-degree murder charge with a bond set at $1 million.
Frisco City Councilman Brian Livingston stated that, despite the chaos online, most residents are choosing to stay above the frenzy of conspiracy theories.
โThis is a much bigger deal on social media. I donโt think social media represents the city of Frisco,โ Livingston told New York Post.
โI think the city of Frisco has a history of handling things like this. We are a united community. It is taken seriously, but I think people are mostly concerned about the two families and focused on getting through this,โ he added.
