A Texas teen charged with fatally stabbing a soccer star from a rival highschool at a monitor meet has raised extra practically $200,000 to fund his authorized protection — together with greater than $100,000 in lower than 24 hours.
Karmelo Anthony’s household has twice raised the fundraising aim for his or her GiveSendGo marketing campaign — it was $100,000 when it launched, now it’s been raised to $200,000 after surpassing every earlier aim.
By Monday afternoon, greater than 5,200 individuals had donated $180,000 to the household — who employed distinguished Dallas civil rights legal professionals Kim T. Cole and Billy Clark.
The Anthony household arrange the “Assist Karmelo Official Fund,” claiming a “false, unjust, and dangerous” narrative is being unfold concerning the slaying of the 17-year-old soccer star.
Police say the Frisco, Texas, 17-year-old pulled a knife out of his backpack and stabbed Austin Metcalf, additionally 17, within the chest when Metcalf tried to make him go away his highschool group’s tent at a monitor meet within the Dallas suburb.
Metcalf died in his twin brother’s arms on the bleachers of a highschool stadium in Frisco, Texas, after Anthony stabbed him within the coronary heart, Metcalf’s heartbroken household mentioned.
Anthony admitted to killing Metcalf, however mentioned he acted in self protection.
Anthony is now within the Collin County Jail on a $1 million bond and a cost of first diploma homicide.
The donations come as a flurry of conspiracy theories have gained traction on-line based mostly on faux posts purporting to be from authorities in Frisco — together with one which claims Anthony was sucker-punched and badly beat throughout a battle with Metcalf, and one other that Metcalf died of a drug overdose. Cops mentioned they’re investigating the faux posts.
The cash from the fundraiser will assist the household retain two prime Texas attorneys with a historical past of taking over racially charged instances, together with negotiating a settlement for a 14-year-old woman manhandled by a cop on the 2015 “McKinney pool occasion” incident.
“Karmelo, like all residents of the US, is entitled to a good and neutral authorized course of; we’re dedicated to making sure that Karmelo’s rights are certainly protected all through every part of the legal justice system,” mentioned Clark and Cole in a press release.
His legal professionals are looking for to decrease Anthony’s “extreme” $1 million bond and persuade the Collin County district legal professional to make “a greater dedication” of the costs, they mentioned.
The fundraiser cash, which is on monitor to blow previous the $200,000 mark, appears to be largely from small donations of $10 – $50.
“Good job standing up for your self younger man!” one latest donor commented.
“Isaiah 54:17 no weapon shaped towards you shall prosper and each tongue that stand up towards you God shall condemn,” wrote one other.
Kim Cole and her agency Ok. Cole Regulation represented black teen Dajerria Becton after a viral video from McKinney, Texas, confirmed a cop slamming and pinning her to the bottom at a pool occasion.
Cole managed to win a $148,850 settlement for Becton from the McKinney police division and the officer, who resigned.
Billy Clark of The Clark Regulation Agency turned knowledgeable mediator after a 20-year profession within the Air Power.
In a press release, the pair of attorneys directed individuals to the Anthony household fundraiser, however in addition they emphasised {that a} earlier GoFundMe web page claiming to be arrange by Karmelo himself was faux.
The bogus GoFundMe web page, which has been taken down, had claimed KArmelo was “jumped” and that Metcalf smashed his telephone, amongst different salacious particulars.
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