WATCH: Twin Brother of Slain Teen Austin Metcalf Accepts Diploma on His Behalf

On Thursday night, a ceremony was held for the 2026 graduating class of Memorial High School in Frisco, TX.

Hunter Metcalf, the twin brother of football star Austin Metcalf who was stabbed to death by another student last year, accepted two diplomas — one for himself, and one for his brother.

When he received his brother’s posthumous diploma, the crowd erupted into a standing ovation and paid tribute to the murdered teen.

Watch the emotional moment here:

https://x.com/CollinRugg/status/2058580668771397659

Arena erupts into a standing ovation as Hunter Metcalf accepts the diploma of his twin brother, Austin Metcalf, who died after being stabbed in the chest last year.

Austin died in his brother’s arms after allegedly being stabbed by Karmelo Anthony.

Anthony faces a maximum prison sentence of 5 to 99 years.

Here’s a slightly longer clip:

What an incredibly bittersweet moment.

Two brothers should have walked across that stage on Thursday, then gone on to celebrate one of the most important milestones of their lives.

But, sadly, that was not the case.

Last spring, Austin died in Hunter’s arms after he was brutally stabbed by now-18-year-old Karmelo Anthony, whose trial is set to begin next month.

The New York Post has more:

The 18-year-old high school senior – who was born two minutes after his brother Austin – graduated Cum Laude, garnering a weighted GPA of 4.0 or above, according to a program viewed by The Post.

The emotional pause in the ceremony came just over 13 months after Austin Metcalf was killed during a violent altercation at a high school track and field championship on April 2, 2025.

Austin, a junior, was sitting in the stands of Frisco’s Kuykendall Stadium when he confronted Centennial High School senior Karmelo Anthony, who chose to sit underneath Memorial High’s tent set up in the bleachers of the venue.

Austin asked Anthony to leave his school’s seating section, but his request was allegedly met with hostility, and an altercation broke out.

During the altercation, Anthony allegedly pulled a knife out of his bag and stabbed Austin in the chest.

The murder suspect fled the area after the stabbing, leaving Austin to die while Hunter held him in his arms.

Anthony was arrested shortly after the stabbing and was charged with first-degree murder.

A jury trial is scheduled to begin on June 1. If found guilty, Anthony faces a maximum prison sentence of between 5 and 99 years.

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Despite being treated as an adult in the case, Anthony is spared from the death penalty and even life in prison without parole, following the US Supreme Court’s ruling against convicted criminals who were 17 and under at the time of the crime.

As you may know, a judge released Karmelo Anthony and put him under house arrest so he can “be with his family,” pending trial.

After Austin Metcalf’s father Jeff spoke out about unfairness of it all, the corrupt judge issued a gag order.

This is why none of Metcalf’s family members delivered remarks at the graduation ceremony.

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Karmelo Anthony was not allowed to participate at the graduation ceremony, though the school did issue him a diploma.

Per People:

Hunter did not speak publicly at the ceremony, nor did any other family members of Austin, WFAA reported, citing a gag order connected to the ongoing murder case, which is set to begin on June 1.

Austin’s name was listed in the Memorial High School commencement ceremony program alongside his brother’s.

Anthony, who was a senior at the time of the incident, graduated last year. However, he was not allowed to participate in any senior graduation activities.

He was initially expelled but was later allowed to receive his diploma because he had a 3.7 GPA and completed all necessary credits, the organization Next Generation Action Network announced at the time after reaching an agreement with the Frisco Independent School District.

The decision drew criticism from Austin’s father, Jeff Metcalf, who attempted to contest the decision, the Daily Mail reported at the time.