In the wake of the tragic stabbing of 17-year-old high school athlete Austin Metcalf at a track meet, the community has been grappling with grief. Amidst this turmoil, people feel the need to talk about it, and it has become a hot topic across social media platforms. Comments from students, parents, community members, and agitators all seem to reflect opinions on what happened that day. The community is divided because no one can truly comprehend how two boys go to school and don’t come home.

But one post from today (9 hours ago) on the FRWC Facebook page, run by Jamie Heit, set off a spark of anger among many in the community, and our email box blew up!  We went to read the post, and honestly, we couldn’t believe what we were reading. Heit posted a new fundraising link for Karmelo Anthony (17 years old), who is now charged with Murder, a 1st Degree Felony, and sits in jail with a bond set at $1 million.  She writes, we do not know what occurred on Wednesday, and in her opinion, it was up to the investigators to determine, the attorneys to litigate, and a jury and judge to decide.  She has chosen to share the fundraising link for Anthony just as she did for the Metcalf families, and that it was not meant to be disrespectful for the loss of life or the unimaginable pain that the Metcalf family is dealing with. 

Heit goes on to say in the post what we do know, is that one student is being laid to rest and another student sits behind bars for ALLEGEDLY STABBING the other.  Then she closed the post to comments.  I wonder why?

Here is the problem with the post, Jamie Heit refers to Anthony as the “alleged” assailant and suggests that the full details of the incident remain unknown. The term “alleged” is typically used to describe someone accused of a crime. Furthermore, Heit’s assertion that “we don’t know what happened” seems to overlook the comprehensive information released by law enforcement. The Frisco Police Department’s statements, corroborated by eyewitnesses, outline a clear sequence of events leading to Metcalf’s death that are in an arrest warrant affidavit.

Based on the arrest warrant affidavit (that all four local news channels shared including Heit’s favorite WFAA) which details the moment officers arrived at the track meet and what witnesses told them led up to the deadly confrontation.  The affidavit also states Anthony claims it was self-defense.  The arresting officer who found Anthony and walked him off the track said before he even questioned Anthony about the incident, Anthony said, “I was protecting myself and Metcalf put his hands on me.”   After another officer arrived, Anthony was then handcuffed and escorted towards the squad card and according to the affidavit when the officer referred to Anthony as the alleged suspect, Anthony responded “I’m not alleged, I did it!”  The affidavit goes on to say when while Anthony was being escorted to the police car and put in the back seat of the vehicle the office made note of fresh blood on Anthony’s middle finger.  The document states that Anthony (while in the back seat of the police vehicle) asked the officer if Metcalf was going to be OK and then asked the officer if his actions could be considered self-defense.

Here is the thing, at this point it doesn’t matter why he did it – no one should have died that day.  Anthony ADMITTED TO STABBING METCALF – so it is not “ALLEGED” IT IS “CONFIRMED”. 

The reason as to why he did it is listed in the affidavit and confirmed by other witnesses.  Heit must not have watched her favorite channel WFAA.  WFAA as well as every other media outlet got a copy of the arrest affidavit, which documents the events.  What we know is that Anthony was sitting under the Memorial pop-up tent when the rain began to fall.  The report goes on to say, “One witness reportedly told police that the victim, Austin Metcalf, had told the suspect, Karmelo Anthony, he would need to move out from under his team’s tent.”   Another witness told police, “Upon being told to move, Anthony opened his bag and reached inside and then said to Metcalf “Touch me and see what happens.” Another witness said, “Metcalf reportedly then touched Anthony, and Anthony told Metcalf to punch him and see what would happen.”  The affidavit continues, “Anthony reportedly pulled out what the witnesses recalled as a large black knife and stabbed Metcalf once in the chest before running away.”  A witness then said, “Metcalf grabbed his chest and told people to get help.”  According to the affidavit, the story was the same among several eyewitnesses at the scene. 

But with all that information already out, Ms. Heit writes her post today with a fundraising link, saying we don’t know what happened, it was alleged, it was … really?  Our mailbox was filled with messages, and what irked many of the people who emailed us about her post was her previous posts from the week, where Ms. Heit doesn’t hold herself accountable to the same standards she preaches from her pulpit to her group members to follow. Just look at the other posts that led up to today’s firestorm post.

The first post on FRWC appeared on Wednesday April 2^nd by a resident at 10:41am saying to “check on your kids” because my son just called and there was a stabbing of a Memorial student by a Centennial student.  Word spread fast and many residents tuned into the number one “Frisco” page run by Jamie Heit who we have written about in the past in our blog Heit’end Controls.  Due to the number of inappropriate or misleading comments Jamie Heit quickly announced she was closing comments and would only be posting official updates in order not to spread misinformation or be disrespectful towards the family or students affected by this.  In a case like this we can appreciate that move because it involves young adults and there was nothing but rumors flying around as it had just happened.

Just a few hours later, Heit took to online pulpit or page and posted a WFAA story (since when did news stories qualify as official updates) and wrote that since the family has now confirmed their son’s passing, she felt it was now appropriate to share that they have set up a GoFundMe.  Just a short time later, she posted information on the prayer vigil for Austin Metcalf (which we attended).   At around 4 pm that same day, she made another post sharing a link to the Frisco PD’s official press release then updated the same post at 5:45 pm.  Heit noted the PR had the suspect’s photo but said she would not share the suspect’s photo because he is a minor.  She then warned everyone not to post photos or videos of the suspect who is a minor or they would be banned from the group.  Then she says, “UNLESS THE MINOR’S HEADSHOT IS PUBLICLY RELEASED BY AUTHORITIES, IT DOES NOT BELONG ON FRWC!”  

Ms. Heit, maybe you should click the link you posted because it has the offenders’ official booking photo.  You contradicted your own words because the AUTHORITIES did release the photo.  Then after updating your post at 5:45pm you posted again at 6:10pm “Just Heartbreaking (broken heart emoji)” and it is another WFAA report (now considered official updates apparently) with a photo of the victim who had been identified – Austin Metcalf, WHO IS A MINOR!!  Ms. Heit, why is it okay, 20 minutes later after your tirade and blocking people for posting photos of a minor, that YOU now post a picture of a minor?  Then 20 minutes later, she posts the father’s official GFM, which has Austin Metcalf’s picture again.  Why not post a link to the GFM without the picture, just like you did in the post regarding the offender?   You know, to protect the minors?  Why is it okay to post one of the boy’s photos but not the other? 

The next day on April 3^rd, Heit again posts official updates by WFAA, saying “This is just gut-wrenching” and goes on to write this has the videos with both Austin’s mother and brother are in the link.  The link brings up a picture of Austin Metcalf’s, A MINOR!   IS IT OKAY NOW TO POST PHOTOS OF MINORS?

Later that day, Heit posts official updates again from WFAA, and this time it has a picture of the student arrested, Karmelo Anthony.   Remember, readers can post pictures, and people have been removed/blocked from her page, but Heit can do whatever she wants because it is an OFFICIAL UPDATE from WFAA.  The official press release by the POLICE that had a photo of the offender, you would not publish because you claimed he was a minor.  The official update by WFAA, well, you can publish that! What happened to the rules about minors?

Then yesterday a resident posted about the Frisco PD working with the FBI to investigate fake social media posts regarding the fatal stabbing and it shows kids (MINORS) getting on buses.  Pretty sure the linked photo is of minors getting on school buses, so it is okay to post these minors.  Later in the day, Heit posts about the ICF Healing for Hearts which is for all faiths to discuss the tragedy.  Yet Heit did not post any of the other church groups offering similar such events.  Wonder why.

In closing, are we surprised by today’s post?  No, of course not!  FRWC is her page, and Heit can do, post, accept, and deny anyone or anything she wants.  What she shouldn’t do is lie to 20k+ people that this was done to be fair to everyone involved.  Heit did this so she could keep her like-minded friends happy.  We have said it before when you have control of a page with 20k+ followers and want to claim to be impartial, then be impartial!  That won’t happen because she does this all the time, she makes posts, shuts down commenting on posts, deletes comments, and is constantly lecturing everyone on how to act, but then does not follow her own words.    

Based on that knowledge in the affidavit, we can’t understand how Ms. Heit can justify posting a fundraising link for someone charged with Murder.  Texas law states that once you turn 17, you are legally considered an adult, and any criminal charges could and would be handled in an adult court.  While I agree with Ms. Heit that the legal process will ultimately determine the outcome for Anthony, the facts presented thus far paint a compelling picture. In such a sensitive situation, it’s crucial for community leaders and influencers to base their statements and actions on verified information to avoid spreading misinformation or inadvertently minimizing the gravity of the incident.​ As the community mourns the loss of one student and grapple with the fact it happened at the hands of another student, it’s imperative to approach the situation with empathy and a commitment to truth, ensuring that the memory of Austin Metcalf is honored appropriately, and that justice is pursued truthfully and diligently for Anthony Karmelo.

For now, we are praying for both families, we understand that each one is facing their own battle with grief and sadness. What we won’t due is post a fundraising link for a kid who admitted to stabbing another child. That is just….insane!