The father of murdered Texas teenager Austin Metcalf has spoken out against public figures and commentators who have publicly defended his son’s convicted killer, saying many have formed opinions without understanding the facts presented during the trial.

In his first television interview since the conviction of Karmelo Anthony, Austin’s father, Jeff Metcalf, expressed frustration over what he described as misinformation surrounding the case.

Austin Metcalf, 17, was fatally stabbed during a high school track meet in Frisco, Texas, on April 2, 2025. In June 2026, Anthony was convicted of murder and sentenced to 35 years in prison.

Speaking with Fox News, Jeff said he struggled with how some commentators continued to debate the case despite the evidence and testimony presented in court.

“People had their own opinions without even seeing the facts,” he said. “That’s the part I have trouble with.”

Jeff specifically responded to comments made by television personalities and political figures who questioned the verdict and argued that Anthony acted in self-defense.

According to prosecutors, Anthony confronted Austin inside a team tent before pulling out a knife and stabbing him in the chest. Witnesses testified that Anthony warned Austin during the confrontation before the fatal encounter occurred.

A medical examiner testified that the knife wound pierced Austin’s heart, resulting in his death.

Anthony’s defense team argued that he acted in self-defense after being pushed during the confrontation. They also challenged aspects of the prosecution’s version of events during the trial.

Following the conviction, some supporters of Anthony claimed race played a role in the outcome of the case and questioned the composition of the jury. Others argued that the sentence was excessive given the circumstances of the incident.

Jeff rejected those claims, insisting the case was not about race.

“I don’t care what color you are,” he said. “I want to judge you on how you treat people and what your character is like.”

The grieving father also criticized what he believes is the growing tendency to turn tragedies into political and social debates.

He said he initially hoped both families could come together after the incident to prevent the case from becoming racially divisive, but those efforts ultimately failed.

Meanwhile, Anthony’s legal team has announced plans to appeal the conviction. A group of attorneys and civil rights advocates has formed an independent coalition to review the trial record and explore potential legal challenges.

The attorneys said they will examine whether any procedural or legal errors occurred during the trial that could serve as grounds for an appeal.

Despite those efforts, the judge who presided over the case defended the jury’s decision, stating that jurors were selected according to the law, reviewed the evidence presented in court, and reached their verdict based on the facts of the case.

As appeals move forward, Jeff Metcalf says his focus remains on honoring Austin’s memory while pushing back against narratives he believes misrepresent what happened to his son.