Tension and Racism in Frisco

FRISCO — Bruce Carter had a message to deliver.

At a protest in the parking lot of David Kuykendall Stadium, Carter pulled out his phone and dialed Jeff Metcalf, the father whose 17-year-old son was fatally stabbed in the stadium’s bleachers weeks earlier — a case that has sparked racist discourse online and thrust two grieving families into the national spotlight.

Carter wanted Jake Lang to hear from Metcalf himself, after Lang came to Frisco from Florida to rally around the death of Metcalf’s son. Lang, a U.S. Senate hopeful, said Metcalf’s son was now a symbol of a “violent Black culture” being perpetrated against white America.

“You’re trying to create more race divide than bridging the gap,” Metcalf told Lang over speakerphone, addressing Lang and the protest held by his organization, Protect White Americans. “I do not condone anything you do,” the father continued, asking Lang to remove his son’s school portrait from the group’s website.

Background of the Case

The day after his son’s death, he appeared on Fox News to urge the public to avoid speculation along racial lines. Austin Metcalf was white. The teenager facing a murder charge in connection to the stabbing, Karmelo Anthony, 17, is Black.

The father’s remarks come days after his home was “swatted” due to a false emergency call to law enforcement and after he was escorted out of a news conference where Anthony’s family spoke publicly about the case for the first time.

Carter and Metcalf met at the Thursday news conference, and Carter later decided to speak with Lang on Metcalf’s behalf at the protest. Carter is a Dallas entrepreneur who owns a public relations firm, according to his website. He has been active in local politics and has campaigned for President Donald Trump. In the past, he ran a group called Black Men for Bernie, referring to Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vermont.

The Protest and Counterprotest

For more than an hour before the phone call, Lang stood atop a parked bus in the stadium lot, addressing a crowd of roughly two dozen. The vehicle was covered with images from American history, including a photo of Trump taken shortly after last year’s assassination attempt in Butler, Penn.

From his perch, Lang, who was accused of taking part in the Jan. 6, 2021 Capitol riot, stood beside Philip Anderson, a Mesquite resident who was also arrested on multiple charges of breaching the U.S. Capitol on that day.

Lang and Anderson delivered speeches suggesting Black Americans are disproportionately violent toward white Americans because of what he called “white hate.” Lang is white. Anderson is Black.

Protesters voiced anger over Anthony’s release on bond, calling for him to be “put back in prison until trial.” Anthony had been initially held in Collin County jail on a $1 million bond, which was later lowered to $250,000 by the judge presiding over the case. His bond conditions require he wear an ankle monitor, remain on house arrest and be with an adult at all times.

Frisco Police Department officials detain a counter protestor during a protest held by the group Protect White Americans, on Saturday, April 19, 2025, at David Kuykendall Stadium in Frisco. The group demands Karmelo Anthony, a 17-year-old who faces a murder charge in the fatal stabbing of 17-year-old Austin Metcalf, be put back in prison until trial.(Shafkat Anowar / Staff Photographer)

Investigations and Safety Concerns

Speculation about what happened at David Kuykendall Stadium on April 2 has intensified in the weeks afterward. Online fundraisers for the Metcalf and Anthony families have drawn hundreds of thousands of dollars. Online disinformation impersonating the Frisco police chief and posts targeting the judge presiding over Anthony’s case have become the subject of criminal investigations.

Police have said they are working with the families to ensure their safety as the case progresses. In recent weeks, both Jeff Metcalf and Austin’s mother, Meghan Metcalf, were targeted in separate “swatting” calls at their homes.

Anthony’s parents, Kala Hayes and Andrew Anthony, stood before a row of television cameras on Thursday — their first public appearance to speak on their son’s case — to confront misinformation circulating about their family and urge the public to allow their son due process under the law. Jeff Metcalf showed up at the news conference but was asked to leave by Dallas police.

Arrests and Charges

Two people at Saturday’s protest were arrested, Officer Grant Cottingham, a Frisco police spokesperson, said in a statement. One man was pepper-sprayed by one of the arrestees but declined treatment, the statement said. No other injuries were reported.

The charges the two arrested would face were pending Saturday afternoon, Cottingham said. He declined to provide additional information, directing reporters to file an open records request under the Texas Public Information Act. The News’ requests were pending Saturday afternoon.

Dozens of police officers were present at the protest.

Conclusion

The situation in Frisco remains tense, with both families and the community seeking justice and answers. The case has sparked a national conversation about racism and violence, and it is essential to approach the topic with sensitivity and respect for all parties involved.

FAQs

Q: What happened at David Kuykendall Stadium on April 2?

A: A 17-year-old student, Austin Metcalf, was fatally stabbed in the stadium’s bleachers. Another student, Karmelo Anthony, 17, faces a murder charge in connection to the stabbing.

Q: What is the current status of the case?

A: The case is ongoing, with Anthony released on bond and awaiting trial. The police are investigating the incident, and online disinformation and harassment of the families have become a significant concern.

Q: What is the response from the community?

A: The community is seeking justice and answers, with many calling for an end to racist discourse and violence. The families of the victims are urging the public to respect their privacy and allow the legal process to unfold.

Q: How can I stay updated on the case?

A: You can follow local news sources and official statements from the police and the families involved. It is essential to be cautious of online disinformation and to respect the privacy and dignity of all parties involved.