Left: Fox News | Right: Jeff Metcalf

The family of Texas high school football standout Austin Metcalf is clinging to their faith in God as they walk through unimaginable grief following his tragic death this week.

Austin, a 17-year-old junior at Frisco Memorial High School, was fatally stabbed during a track meet Tuesday after a brief argument with another student, police say. The suspect, identified as 17-year-old Karmelo Anthony of Frisco Centennial High School, is now facing a felony murder charge and is being held without bail.

Austin’s twin brother, Hunter, witnessed the horrifying attack. He said the tragedy unfolded within moments after Austin asked Anthony why he was in their team’s area. Hunter turned away briefly—only to see his brother being attacked.

“I tried to whip around as fast as I could,” Hunter told WFAA. “I looked at my brother, and I’m not going to talk about the rest. I tried to help him.”

The Metcalf family, who attends Hope Fellowship Church in Frisco, is leaning on God for strength—and praying through the difficult process of forgiveness.

Wearing a cross around his neck during an emotional interview with Fox News, Hunter expressed his heartache. “It’s forgave, not forgotten, but I’m not at that point yet to forgive what that boy did to my brother. Eventually, I will. I pray for his family. I pray that they understand what we’re going through.”

Austin’s father, Jeff Metcalf, has already made the courageous choice to forgive.

“You know what, I already forgive this person. Already,” Jeff told KXAS. “God takes care of things. God is going to take care of me. God is going to take care of my family.”

However, Meghan Metcalf, Austin’s mother, said her heart is still too broken to offer forgiveness.

“I am not like their dad; I am so angry at that boy,” she said. “It’s just not fair.” Through tears, she urged parents everywhere to hug their babies tight because you don’t know if it will be the last time you do it.

Austin’s death has rocked the city of Frisco, which was ranked the safest city in America just last year. Hundreds gathered at a vigil Wednesday night at Hope Fellowship Church to remember Austin’s life and pray for the Metcalf family.

In what would be his final social media post, Austin shared a message of trust in God: “Faith that God got me ❤️ and my work will pay off.” As of Friday, the post had been viewed more than 2.8 million times, a moving reminder of the young man’s deep faith.

Two GoFundMe campaigns have already raised more than $280,000 to help the Metcalf family with funeral expenses and other needs.

In the midst of heartbreak, the Metcalfs are holding fast to the hope that only faith can bring. As Jeff Metcalf said with confidence: “God is going to take care of us.”

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