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AIBU to think USA has gone crazy - Karmelo Anthony is a murderer not a victim

258 replies

Neutralnames · 11/06/2026 14:32

From what I have read, Karmelo Anthony (who is black African American) took a concealed knife to a track event. When it started raining he ran to another team's tent to shelter. He was told to leave by a white athlete called Austin Metcalfe. KA refused saying ' 'Touch me and see what happens', According to one account I read he was repeatedly told to leave and replied the same way each time. Austin Metcalfe then pushed KA to get him to leave and KA pulled out the knife and stabbed AM in the chest, killing him.

Apparently sections of America are outraged that KA has now been convicted of murder. Possible sentence range in America is 5 to 99 years for this offence and he got 35 years.

I don't understand how this is not murder. In UK law if you can run away you must, and he didn't. In UK law if you kill someone when you could have run, you will be tried for murder.

KA took a knife. He could have left (even if he thought it was a dick move to ask him to leave when it was raining - you can't murder people for being dickish about their gazebo) but chose to not to, escalating the situation with threatening language and then stabbed a young man in the chest.

I just think something has gone terribly wrong in USA society where this man is treated as a victim, not the person who he killed, and this case is regarded as an injustice against him. I hope the UK does not go down this route.

OP posts:
Neutralnames · 11/06/2026 20:35

Anyahyacinth · 11/06/2026 20:30

I’m not minimising anything…I just believe in facts and context. I’m not a simplistic.

The fact is it was a knife capable of killing a man, did kill a man and was carried by a man who felt confident enough to provoke a fight with someone bigger than him.

OP posts:
Ponoka7 · 11/06/2026 20:34

@Neutralnames the other students in the tent didn't say Anthony was the aggressive one. The Metcalfs had no reason, or right to tell him to get out.

Malinia · 11/06/2026 20:34

Ponoka7 · 11/06/2026 20:32

The weather was stated as a reason he went into the tent. He sat down. The victim's twin brother started hassling Anthony. Austin Metcalf (the victim) wouldn't let it go and is on camera shoving Anthony. Both brothers and another boy was standing over him (on camera). Other students in the tent said it was a scuffle, instigated by the Metcalfs. Anthony stabbed him, he claims, in self defence. The coach said, in court that it wasn't unusual to share tents and they had no reason to bulky Anthony out of the tent. The knife he was carrying wasn't illegal. Three black women were cut from the jury. Anthony was 17, considering everything, he shouldn't lose his whole life to this.

He murdered someone, of course he fucking should.

Ponoka7 · 11/06/2026 20:32

Neutralnames · 11/06/2026 20:05

So if someone came into your house and you repeatedly told them to get out, but the refused and said ‘ touch me and see what happens’ as well as other verbal aggression and you said ‘I won’t fight you’ and they carried on, so after the 15 th or so time of telling them to leave you pushed them to get them out of your house, would you honestly think you were the one being aggressive?

The weather was stated as a reason he went into the tent. He sat down. The victim's twin brother started hassling Anthony. Austin Metcalf (the victim) wouldn't let it go and is on camera shoving Anthony. Both brothers and another boy was standing over him (on camera). Other students in the tent said it was a scuffle, instigated by the Metcalfs. Anthony stabbed him, he claims, in self defence. The coach said, in court that it wasn't unusual to share tents and they had no reason to bulky Anthony out of the tent. The knife he was carrying wasn't illegal. Three black women were cut from the jury. Anthony was 17, considering everything, he shouldn't lose his whole life to this.

Neutralnames · 11/06/2026 20:32

AmberTigerEyes · 11/06/2026 20:25

Except that in the US carrying a knife isn’t the criminal activity we see it as in the UK. Most blue collar workers and Boy Scouts carry these multi-tools and no one thinks anything of it. In several states, you can openly carry a gun and no one thinks you’re up to no good. You need to think a bit more about the cultural context of the US and subcultural context of Texas.

Edited

The difference here is that KA was carrying a knife, repeatedly provoking a fight with someone who was bigger than him ‘touch me and see what happens’ , refusing all de-escalation ‘Leave’ ‘I won’t fight you’ and then took out and used the knife to stab through the chest with great force.

That sounds very much like someone who from the start of the confrontation felt emboldened by the knowledge he had a knife to use on the bigger guy.

OP posts:
Anyahyacinth · 11/06/2026 20:30

Neutralnames · 11/06/2026 20:28

You talk about others minimizing but here you seem to be minimizing a blade that was capable of killing another human, and did.

I’m not minimising anything…I just believe in facts and context. I’m not a simplistic.

AmberTigerEyes · 11/06/2026 20:29

Walkyrie · 11/06/2026 20:26

They’ve considered that and sentenced him to 35 years.

Ok. I see you have immense faith in Texas courts.
I am sure you are applauding their 3rd degree murder convictions as we speak.

Anyahyacinth · 11/06/2026 20:29

Walkyrie · 11/06/2026 20:25

They should have, IMO. But did they escalate their own death?

The word used is ‘provoke’ ….the victim in this case certain was fairly unpleasant being aggressive to someone seeking shelter, speaking to them rudely, demanding they leave and then putting hands on them…the rest is for a jury of his peers

An all black jury trying a white man would never be seen as acceptable ..the arguments her overlook he was convicted ..it is the sentence and context that is being protested

Neutralnames · 11/06/2026 20:28

Anyahyacinth · 11/06/2026 20:20

The knife was a multi tool with a torch a 6 in 1 multi tool ..sold at Walmart

Everything is a little more complicated than the simplistics try to claim ..there are nuances …that this mob like reaction overlooks to fit personal agendas

You talk about others minimizing but here you seem to be minimizing a blade that was capable of killing another human, and did.

OP posts:
Neutralnames · 11/06/2026 20:28

Anyahyacinth · 11/06/2026 20:20

The knife was a multi tool with a torch a 6 in 1 multi tool ..sold at Walmart

Everything is a little more complicated than the simplistics try to claim ..there are nuances …that this mob like reaction overlooks to fit personal agendas

You talk about others minimizing but here you seem to be minimizing a blade that was capable of killing another human, and did.

OP posts:
AmberTigerEyes · 11/06/2026 20:27

Walkyrie · 11/06/2026 20:24

And yet here you are, writing excuses that very much read that way.

They really don’t read that way. That’s your bias again. You’re not reading who I am responding to and what they have written.

Walkyrie · 11/06/2026 20:26

AmberTigerEyes · 11/06/2026 20:25

Except that in the US carrying a knife isn’t the criminal activity we see it as in the UK. Most blue collar workers and Boy Scouts carry these multi-tools and no one thinks anything of it. In several states, you can openly carry a gun and no one thinks you’re up to no good. You need to think a bit more about the cultural context of the US and subcultural context of Texas.

Edited

They’ve considered that and sentenced him to 35 years.

AmberTigerEyes · 11/06/2026 20:25

Walkyrie · 11/06/2026 20:22

It was a blade. He carried it. He used it to kill somebody. It could’ve been obtained from a Happy Meal for all I care - the fact is he used a knife to stab somebody to death.

Except that in the US carrying a knife isn’t the criminal activity we see it as in the UK. Most blue collar workers and Boy Scouts carry these multi-tools and no one thinks anything of it. In several states, you can openly carry a gun and no one thinks you’re up to no good. You need to think a bit more about the cultural context of the US and subcultural context of Texas.

Neutralnames · 11/06/2026 20:25

MyTwinklyMoose · 11/06/2026 20:24

*You’re.

Happy to help!!!!!

Enjoy your right wing views and hating the left wing nutters! Wait, I have to add emojis don’t I?! 😉☺️🥳

P.S I didn’t get any more traction because I was right. Now, I won’t be reading any more of your infantile replies, but let loose.

You said that last time 😂

OP posts:
Walkyrie · 11/06/2026 20:25

Anyahyacinth · 11/06/2026 20:24

Ah well ..we part ways because I believe in justice not kangaroo courts..I believe in an examination of the evidence and sentencing guidelines so prejudices isn’t evident in the OUTCOMES of convictions

Which is exactly what he got; so don’t worry.

Walkyrie · 11/06/2026 20:25

Anyahyacinth · 11/06/2026 20:23

They are all murders too..did they get 35 years ?

Its the difference that is being protested

They should have, IMO. But did they escalate their own death?

Anyahyacinth · 11/06/2026 20:24

Walkyrie · 11/06/2026 20:22

It was a blade. He carried it. He used it to kill somebody. It could’ve been obtained from a Happy Meal for all I care - the fact is he used a knife to stab somebody to death.

Ah well ..we part ways because I believe in justice not kangaroo courts..I believe in an examination of the evidence and sentencing guidelines so prejudices isn’t evident in the OUTCOMES of convictions

Walkyrie · 11/06/2026 20:24

AmberTigerEyes · 11/06/2026 20:23

Well you’re missing some facts there in those cases as two of those didn’t do any escalation at all.

But no, escalation doesn’t mean you have caused or deserved further escalation.

And yet here you are, writing excuses that very much read that way.

MyTwinklyMoose · 11/06/2026 20:24

Neutralnames · 11/06/2026 19:49

Oh good.

Your not getting any more traction with anyone else I see though.

*You’re.

Happy to help!!!!!

Enjoy your right wing views and hating the left wing nutters! Wait, I have to add emojis don’t I?! 😉☺️🥳

P.S I didn’t get any more traction because I was right. Now, I won’t be reading any more of your infantile replies, but let loose.

AmberTigerEyes · 11/06/2026 20:23

Walkyrie · 11/06/2026 20:21

So did George Floyd escalate his own death? Because he escalated by resisting the police didn’t he? Did Trayvon Martin, because he escalated by getting into an altercation with George Zimmerman? Did Renee Good escalate her own death by driving toward the police?

Well you’re missing some facts there in those cases as two of those didn’t do any escalation at all.

But no, escalation doesn’t mean you have caused or deserved further escalation.

Anyahyacinth · 11/06/2026 20:23

Walkyrie · 11/06/2026 20:21

So did George Floyd escalate his own death? Because he escalated by resisting the police didn’t he? Did Trayvon Martin, because he escalated by getting into an altercation with George Zimmerman? Did Renee Good escalate her own death by driving toward the police?

They are all murders too..did they get 35 years ?

Its the difference that is being protested

Walkyrie · 11/06/2026 20:22

Anyahyacinth · 11/06/2026 20:20

The knife was a multi tool with a torch a 6 in 1 multi tool ..sold at Walmart

Everything is a little more complicated than the simplistics try to claim ..there are nuances …that this mob like reaction overlooks to fit personal agendas

It was a blade. He carried it. He used it to kill somebody. It could’ve been obtained from a Happy Meal for all I care - the fact is he used a knife to stab somebody to death.

Neutralnames · 11/06/2026 20:21

AmberTigerEyes · 11/06/2026 20:07

Right, I am minimising when it’s you lot claiming words are more of the threat than physical assault. Love to see you argue that in any other context.

You are distorting because when you present it like this, it’s presented as if a white boy goes about randomly shoving people, whereas a black boy only using his words. Oh look, you are racist as you think the black not was worse.

But that isn’t what happened. One boy came with a knife, repeatedly refused to leave, repeatedly ignored the de-escalation attempts of ‘I won’t fight you’ , and kept on goading verbally ‘touch me and see what happens’ and refusing to move till he was pushed to get him out of their space. It’s a racial lens that tries to pretend the white boy was the greater aggressor. Everyone else can see one was spoiling for a fight and the other trying to avoid a fight and just trying to get the other to go away.

Just remembered I had this once at school. Two girls following me around goading and calling me names all play time. Wouldn’t go away. Till in the end I pushed one of them to make them stop and go away, and her face lit up in delight as she had got what she wanted and ran off to get me in trouble with the teacher.

One is the aggressor. One is wanting it to stop. If they had both been white or both been black no one would have have any trouble telling which was which.

OP posts:
AmberTigerEyes · 11/06/2026 20:21

You guys do know the difference between murder and manslaughter? And the 3 degrees of murder?