A Texas father is expressing his grief following the tragic death of his 17-year-old son, who was fatally stabbed during a high school track event. This incident has left the father’s life in turmoil.

Austin Metcalf, a junior at Memorial High School in Frisco, was reportedly stabbed in the chest by Karmelo Anthony, another 17-year-old student. The confrontation allegedly arose from a seating disagreement while awaiting a delayed competition.

Jeff Metcalf, Austin’s father, spoke to Fox News, sharing the devastation of losing his son. “My son is gone, and he’ll never come home again,” he said on ‘America Reports’. “Austin was the light of my life.”

“They were so tight. They had the best bond. They were best friends,” Metcalf said about Austin and his twin brother, Hunter.

Austin died in the arms of his twin brother, Hunter, who tried to stop the bleeding. The bond between the twins was strong, and now Jeff Metcalf focuses on supporting Hunter through this difficult time.

The Metcalf family urges the public not to speculate about any racial or political motives behind the stabbing. Jeff Metcalf emphasized, “It’s not… this is a human being thing. This person made a bad choice and affected both his family and my family forever.”

Austin was an honor student and talented athlete with dreams of playing college football. Known for his compassion, his social media reflected a 3.97 GPA and involvement in football camps. “He lit up the room everywhere he went,” his father remembered.

The family’s church organized a vigil in Austin’s honor, gathering hundreds. Jeff Metcalf draws strength from his faith to cope with the loss, declaring that forgiveness is his chosen path. “The forgiveness is not for him. The forgiveness is for me, so I can have peace,” he said.

In the days before the tragedy, Jeff and his sons shared memorable moments hunting together. Recalling their last conversation, he remembered Austin’s promise to help with chores considering Jeff’s injury and their exchange of “I love you.”

The accused, a student-athlete from Frisco Centennial High School, faces charges of murder following his arrest.