Karmelo Anthony reportedly moved to undisclosed location after court approval over 'alarming increase in death threats'



Karmelo Anthony — the Texas teen charged with murdering high school athlete Austin Metcalf earlier this month — has been moved to an undisclosed location due to an "alarming increase in death threats," KDFW-TV reported.

The Next Generation Action Network, a group advocating for Anthony, told the station the location switch occurred after court approval.

'It is both heartbreaking and infuriating to see the depths of hate and bigotry still alive and well in our society.'

Anthony has been on house arrest since his April 14 release from jail when a judge lowered his bond from $1 million to $250,000. Police arrested Anthony and charged him with first-degree murder after Metcalf was fatally stabbed at an April 2 track meet at Kuykendall Stadium in Frisco.

NGAN told the station in a news release that in addition to death threats, there has been "continued harassment and physical intimidation targeted at the family's home."

More from KDFW:

Some of the harassment includes people visiting the Anthony family home, loitering and taking photos of the property, false food deliveries, disturbing mailings, including Austin Metcalf's obituary, and people repeatedly circling the family home, taking photos and attempting to provoke fear and intimidation, the news release states.

Dominique Alexander, NGAN's president, said a "dangerous atmosphere ... has been created — an atmosphere fueled by organized hate, systemic racism, and intentional misinformation," the station said, citing the news release.

"It is both heartbreaking and infuriating to see the depths of hate and bigotry still alive and well in our society," Alexander added, according to KDFW. "No family should have to live under siege simply because they are demanding their constitutional rights. We will not be silent, and we will not back down. We are committed to doing whatever is necessary to protect this family and to ensure that justice is pursued without intimidation or fear."

Alexander made headlines last week when he called Jeff Metcalf — the father of the murder victim — "disrespectful" for showing up at a Thursday news conference for the Anthony family. After Dallas police were called to the news conference, Jeff Metcalf was seen departing the venue.

  

Alexander told those gathered at the news conference that Metcalf "was not invited," that "he knows that it's inappropriate to be near [the Anthony] family," and that his presence at the news conference "shows you all" his "character."

Metcalf told the New York Post on Saturday that Alexander and Anthony's parents at the news conference "should have pulled me up [to the front] and said, ‘We are so sorry. Our condolences.’ The only thing I would have said was, ‘Okay, can we pray together and show the world we’re united[?]'"

What's more, just minutes after Metcalf was kicked out of the news conference, Frisco police said they responded to a report of a gunshot at his home — but soon determined the call was an attempt at "swatting," which is a false call intended to cause harm through a police response.

'Protect White Americans' rally

NGAN said another reason Anthony was moved to an undisclosed location was because of a "Protect White Americans" rally held Saturday in Frisco, KDFW reported.

The rally took place in the parking lot of Kuykendall Stadium, where Metcalf was fatally stabbed, the station said. Jake Lang of Florida, charged in the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol, organized the rally, KDFW said.

The rally didn't make much of a splash and was sparsely attended, the station said. Police appeared to arrest two counterprotesters — one for allegedly pepper-spraying a rally attendee and the other for interfering in the counterprotester's arrest.

Lang said on X that he "broke into Kuykendall Stadium and got the first ever footage of Austin Metcalf's blood stained on the stadium floor," KDFW reported. Officials with the Frisco Independent School District said they filed trespassing charges against Lang for breaking into district property, the station reported, adding that Lang's video was from "the home side of the stadium. The incident occurred on the visitor side, which can be seen across the field when he turns the camera off himself."

In addition, video from the rally reportedly shows Lang speaking to Jeff Metcalf by phone and Metcalf telling Lang that he's "part of the f**king problem" and that Lang is "trying to create more race divide than bridging the gap." Lang is seen replying that Metcalf is exhibiting "white guilt."

On the other side of things, Karmelo Anthony's defenders have been going viral on social media, with one of them actually declaring that Metcalf "got exactly what he deserved — point blank, period."

Anything else?

Soon after the April 2 stabbing, the arresting officer said Anthony reportedly told him, "I was protecting myself," before the officer questioned him about the incident, WFAA-TV reported, citing the arrest affidavit.

Anthony also reportedly told the officer that Metcalf "put his hands on [him]," the station said, citing the affidavit, after which Anthony was handcuffed.

The arresting officer soon told a fellow officer arriving on the scene that he had the alleged suspect — and Anthony reportedly interjected, "I'm not alleged; I did it," WFAA reported.

A witness reportedly noted to police that Metcalf — who competed for Memorial High School — told Anthony he had to move from under his team's tent, the station said, citing the affidavit. With that Anthony opened his bag and reached inside, the witness told police, WFAA said.

"Touch me and see what happens," Anthony told Metcalf, the station added, citing a witness.

Metcalf reportedly touched Anthony, the witness told an officer, and Anthony told Metcalf to punch him and see what would happen, WFAA reported.

The witness said Metcalf then reportedly grabbed Anthony, after which Anthony reportedly pulled out what the witness recalled as a black knife and stabbed Metcalf once in the chest before running away, according to the station, citing the affidavit.

Metcalf reportedly grabbed his chest and told others to get help, the witness told police, according to WFAA.

While Anthony was in the back seat of a police vehicle, an officer saw fresh blood on his left middle finger, the station said, citing the affidavit.

WFAA, citing the document, said Anthony while he was in the back seat of the vehicle also reportedly asked the officer if Metcalf was going to be OK. While being escorted to the squad car, Anthony asked an officer if his actions could be considered self-defense.

A GiveSendGo fund for Anthony sits at just over $500,000 as of Tuesday morning.

Anthony's father contended in an interview with the New York Post that “everyone has already made their assumptions about my son, but he’s not what they’re making him out to be." Anthony's father added to the paper that his son "was not the aggressor" and is "a good kid. He works two jobs. He’s an A student, has a 3.7 GPA."

Alexander during last week's news conference ripped the Frisco ISD, claiming that district officials intend to expel Anthony — a senior at Centennial High School — prior to his graduation.

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Karmelo Anthony granted house arrest as judge reduces his bond from $1 million to $250,000



Karmelo Anthony — the 17-year-old charged with murdering Texas high school star athlete Austin Metcalf, also 17, in connection with an April 2 stabbing at a Frisco track meet — was granted house arrest as a judge on Monday reduced his bond from $1 million to $250,000.

The bond reduction hearing began at 9 a.m. with Anthony entering the courtroom handcuffed and chained while wearing a gold jumpsuit, KDFW-TV reported.

'For reasons unknown, the defendant brought a knife to a track meet. For what probably could have been a fist fight at worst.'

Anthony's attorneys asked the judge to reduce his bond to $150,000, the station said, adding that defense attorney Mike Howard said, "Given that Karmelo has no prior criminal history …given that this young man has not been in any sort of trouble before, 1 million dollars is not necessary."

Howard added that "this family needs to be able to survive. There’s been a tremendous amount of pressure. I think at this point, living in a gated community, given everything, the safety of their younger children is very warranted. Security details and criminal defense are not cheap," KFDW said.

Howard also suggested putting Karmelo on an ankle monitor and imposing house arrest to "give this young man a chance to get out of jail and be with his family," the station noted. Anthony has been in Collin County Jail since the fatal stabbing.

Prosecutors said Anthony was in an "altercation" in school on Feb. 4, which didn't involve law enforcement, KDFW reported, adding that the GiveSendGo fundraising page that topped $250,000 early last week also was brought up. As of Monday afternoon, the funding eclipsed $415,000.

Bill Wirsky, Collin County First Assistant, argued that "for reasons unknown, the defendant brought a knife to a track meet. For what probably could have been a fist fight at worst. [The family] could make this million-dollar bond as soon as they get access to it. I don’t know why we are here."

Anthony's mother and father both testified at the bond hearing, the station reported, and said a lot of the money needs to go to their son's legal defense.

Anthony's father added that the family doesn't have access to the money raised, WFAA-TV reported, adding that the father also said he's the sole provider for his family and the notoriety of the case is forcing his family to move to a new home. The moving costs and the cost of providing for his wife and four children prevents the family from being able to pay the $1 million bond, the father also said, according to WFAA.

The judge reduced Anthony's bond to $250,000, KDFW reported, adding that he will be placed on house arrest, will have to speak to the bailiff every Friday morning, and isn't allowed on social media.

Judge Angela Tucker of the 199th Judicial District Court said she learned of the case assignment last Monday and that cases are assigned at random, KDFW said, adding that Tucker will preside only over the bond reduction hearing. Another judge will be randomly selected to preside over the trial, KDFW noted.

Tucker said they've never had the security issues they've faced with this case, KDFW said, and that a bond is meant to ensure a defendant returns to court and to ensure the community's safety.

"I don't take that lightly at all," Tucker also said during the bond hearing, according to KDFW. "I take those things very seriously."

She added that "there is no replacement for the loss of life or the loss of a child. I don’t want the family to think a bond amount is connected to the dignity of loss. You cannot make the person come back," KDFW noted.

The family on Saturday announced they had hired Howard as a new attorney to represent their son, KDFW reported. According to KXAS-TV, the family on April 4 hired defense attorney Deric Walpole; then ABC News reported on April 8 that Anthony's family retained Dallas-Fort Worth-area defense attorneys Billy Clark of the Clark Law Firm and Kim Cole of K Cole Law in the case.

Metcalf's memorial service was held Saturday at Hope Fellowship Frisco East, KDFW reported, adding that the family held a private burial after the service.

KDFW said in lieu of flowers, the family encourages donations to a scholarship in honor of Metcalf at https://hopefellowship.churchcenter.com/giving. KDFW said outside the church some memorial service attendees wore football jerseys; Metcalf was a member of the Frisco Memorial High School football team and was voted MVP this past season. He also was a member of the track and field team, the station added.

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Adult male on house arrest for selling cocaine brings home 13-year-old runaway girl and molests her, police say



An adult male on house arrest for selling cocaine brought a 13-year-old runaway girl to his residence in south Florida earlier this month and molested her, police said.

What are the details?

Leonel Keenan Labranche, 27, was on house arrest when he drove up to the young teen who was walking along a street after running away Jan. 9 and invited her into his home on Northwest 83rd Terrace in the county’s West Little River area, WPLG-TV reported, citing Miami-Dade police.

Police said the pair smoked marijuana and performed sex acts on each other as she stayed at Labranche's residence, the station noted.

Labranche on Jan. 12 took the girl to Memorial Hospital West in Pembroke Pines after he became concerned that she might have a sexually transmitted infection, WPLG reported, citing an arrest report.

Police added to the station that they located Labranche on Friday, and he confessed to the allegations during an interview with detectives.

Labranche was being held without bond in Miami-Dade’s Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center as of Monday morning, WPLG reported.

More from the station:

Labranche, whose house arrest stemmed from charges of selling cocaine and misuse of a two-way communications device, now adds a charge of lewd and lascivious molestation to his slate of charges, which also include multiple domestic violence-related felonies in connection with separate cases.

According to jail records, Labranche's charge of selling cocaine included that it occurred within 1,000 feet of a school. Records also indicate that in another case he was charged with burglary with assault or battery.

How are folks reacting?

Commenters reacting to Labranche's arrest on Facebook and under the WPLG story were unified in their disgust at the suspect:

  • "Please keep him locked up!!" one commenter begged.
  • "POS," another commenter observed.

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Doughnut shop worker who fatally punched 77-year-old customer over being called N-word sentenced to two years of house arrest



A 27-year-old doughnut shop employee who fatally punched a 77-year-old customer last year over being called the N-word was sentenced Monday to two years of house arrest, WTVT-TV reported.

What are the details?

Investigators said Vonelle Cook went through a Dunkin' drive-through in Tampa, Florida, on May 5, 2021, and was angry about the lack of service, the station reported.

Employees said Cook was a frequent customer and "regularly troublesome and abusive," WTVT said, citing a state attorney's office release.

Cook then parked his car and walked into the restaurant, and prosecutors said he was aggressive and verbally abusive toward employees — including Corey Pujols, the station said.

When Pujols — who is black — asked Cook to leave, police told WTVT that Cook called him the N-word.

Pujols told Cook not to call him the racial slur again, the station said, but Cook did just that. WTVT's early reporting on the incident — citing investigators — indicated the victim repeated the slur after Pujols challenged him to do so.

After the second N-word utterance, Pujols punched Cook in the jaw, the station said. The blow knocked out Cook and caused him fall and hit his head on the floor, WTVT said.

Tampa Fire Rescue responded and took Cook to a hospital, where he died three days later, the station said, adding that an autopsy revealed he suffered a skull fracture and brain contusions from the fall.

What happened next?

Police arrested Pujols and charged him with aggravated manslaughter of an elderly adult, WTVT said. But prosecutors later made a deal with Pujols, who pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of felony battery in exchange for a more lenient sentence, the station said.

In addition to two years of house arrest, a judge sentenced the former Dunkin' employee to complete 200 hours of community service and attend an anger management course, WTVT said.

"This outcome holds the defendant accountable while taking into account the totality of the circumstances — the aggressive approach and despicable racial slur used by the victim, along with the defendant’s age, lack of criminal record, and lack of intent to cause the victim’s death," Grayson Kamm, spokesperson for the Hillsborough state attorney's office, told the station in a statement.

Prosecutors also noted Cook's "very troublesome criminal history" and prison time — court records show he was a registered sex offender — which they said made him an "unsympathetic victim," WTVT reported.

Darrin Johnson, an attorney for Pujols, declined to comment after the hearing, the station said.

Here's a WTVT report that aired after Cook's death:

Accused Capitol rioter on house arrest for allegedly violating gun order in mountain lion hunt



A hunting guide accused of assaulting a police officer during the Jan. 6 storming of the Capitol has been placed on house arrest by a judge, over allegations that he violated the terms of his release by allegedly shooting a mountain lion while under court orders.

Patrick Montgomery, 48, is not supposed to have a gun at all because of a prior felony charge, prosecutors say.

What are the details?

Montgomery runs a guide service called Pmonte Outdoors out of Littleton, Colorado. In January, he was indicted on 10 counts after allegedly entering the Capitol building and "kicking a police officer in the chest and trying to take his baton during riots," The Denver Gazette reported, citing court documents.

"Montgomery has no respect for the Court's orders, just like he had no respect for law enforcement at the Capitol on January 6," acting United States Attorney Channing Phillips wrote in court documents.

"Instead of peacefully protesting, he tried to grab a Metropolitan Police Department officer's baton, wrestled him to the ground for it, and then kicked the officer in the chest while wearing a boot," Phillips claims. "After the officer regained control of his baton, Montgomery stood up, and held up his two middle fingers at the officer. "

CBS News reported that since Montgomery's arrest, he has been free on pre-trial release, but prosecutors pressed Monday for him to be placed under house arrest over allegations that he violated the stipulation that he not "possess illegal firearms." The judge agreed.

The house arrest was sparked by a mountain lion hunt of which the U.S. Attorney's Office supplied a picture purportedly showing Montgomery on March 31 holding up a mountain lion kill.

Anything else?

Montgomery allegedly told an officer at a park that he had killed the animal with a .357 magnum handgun. After running a background check, the officer found that Montgomery was convicted of three counts of felony robbery from 1996.

But this was not the first time Montgomery violated his release, according to prosecutors who say he also "illegally hunted a bobcat in January, allegedly using a slingshot to knock it out of a tree and then allowed his dogs to kill it in violation of state law," ABC News reported.

When confronted about the past convictions, Montgomery "said he was granted a plea agreement that allowed him possession of firearms for the purposes of hunting and guiding," CBS reported.

  Alleged U.S. Capitol Rioter Patrick Montgomery Faces Arrest After Hunting Mountain Lion www.youtube.com