The FBI and cops are investigating the spread of fake social media posts about the death of Frisco, Texas, high school football star Austin Metcalf, who authorities say was stabbed by a teen from a rival school at a track meet.
The 17-year-old athlete and honor student died after he was knifed in the chest allegedly by Karmelo Anthony, also 17, following an altercation. Metcalf’s family said he had never met the other teen before and that the confrontation turned violent within seconds when Anthony pulled out a knife.
In the wake of the slaying, a spate of bogus accounts impersonating the local police chief and medical examiner’s office have popped up, spreading falsehoods about his demise — including one fake viral post claiming Metcalf actually died from a drug overdose.
Another fake post, which impersonated the Frisco police chief, claimed that Metcalf was killed after beating Anthony repeatedly during “mutual combat.”
One doctored image that claimed to be a report from the Collin County Medical Examiner’s Office falsely stated Metcalf’s primary cause of death was an “MDMA drug overdose” — and that the stab wound was secondary, police said.