Outrage as Swatting Targets Father of Slain Teen Following Press Conference Appearance
Last night, the fallout from the tragic death of Austin Metaf took a disturbing turn as his father was reportedly the victim of a swatting incident. This comes just after the father was physically removed from a press conference he attended. In our opinion, he had every right to be there to witness and stand by as the family of the individual responsible for his son’s death spoke.
The events began yesterday when Austin Metaf’s father attended a press conference, only to be asked to leave. According to Jeff Metaf himself, speaking to WFAA, he was there merely to listen and witness the proceedings, stating, “I’m not here to create disturbance, I’m just here to stand by and witness this press conference“. Despite this, he was asked to leave and shook hands with officers before doing so.
The situation escalated last night when a swatting call was made to an address belonging to the victim’s father. Thankfully, Jeff Metaf was not home at the time but arrived shortly after. We want to be clear: swatting is a dangerous prank designed to provoke a heavy police response and carries the risk of serious harm. While we cannot definitively say who was behind this act, it certainly raises questions about potential retaliation for the father’s appearance at the press conference.
Furthermore, there was initial misreporting regarding the family’s living situation. Contrary to some reports, it appears the family has been renting their current home since at least May 6th, 2024, and did not recently purchase an $800,000 property. Similarly, questions have been raised about the ownership of a reported new Escalade, especially given that the father previously worked at a car dealership, where taking a company car is often a policy for management or good salespeople. We felt it was important to correct this earlier misinformation.
The press conference also saw Kayla Hayes, the mother of Karmelo Anthony, speak out, emotionally denying that her family has used any money from a GiveSendGo fund, which has collected over $450,000. She stated that her family has been under attack, and her 13-year-old daughter is now afraid to sleep in her own bedroom due to threats.
Adding another layer to this complex situation is the involvement of a particular individual acting as a spokesman for the Anthony family. This is the same individual who has a history of questionable behavior, including an incident at a 2020 Trump rally where he attempted to commandeer the stage and acted aggressively. Additionally, there are disturbing reports of this individual shaking a 2-year-old baby, allegedly causing brain damage. It is certainly odd to see someone with such a history representing a family in this sensitive case.
Finally, it was revealed at the presser that Frisco ISD has moved to expel Karmelo Anthony following the murder accusation on school property, as per district policy. While he has the option to appeal, this is the current decision from the school.
We believe Austin Metaf’s father had every right to be at that press conference to seek answers and to be present as the other side spoke. The subsequent swatting incident is unacceptable and highlights the charged atmosphere surrounding this tragedy. We will continue to follow this developing story and provide updates as they become available.
