Judge Lowers Bond
Seventeen-year-old Karmelo Anthony, charged with the fatal stabbing of fellow student Austin Metcalf, was released after Judge Angela Tucker reduced his bond from $1 million to $250,000. She imposed house arrest, electronic monitoring, and travel restrictions. Defense attorney Mike Howard said, “Bond… is not supposed to be an instrument of oppression.”

Courtroom Reactions
The courtroom saw emotional scenes from both families. Austin’s father testified they couldn’t access over $400,000 raised for Karmelo’s defense. Prosecutors argued otherwise, but the judge cited Karmelo’s age, clean record, and community ties in her ruling.

Incident Details
The stabbing occurred during a track meet on April 2. According to police, Karmelo admitted, “I’m not alleged, I did it,” but claimed self-defense, saying, “I was protecting myself.” A witness said Karmelo warned Austin before the stabbing, which fatally wounded him.

Public Response
The release drew mixed reactions. While some cheered, others criticized the decision, citing justice disparities. The victim’s family continues to mourn. Austin’s father shared, “He died in his brother’s arms,” and called the incident “murder.” Fundraisers are ongoing for both families.