Key Takeaways
- Far‑right influencer Jake Lang was arrested by Texas DPS on a terror‑threat charge after stating he would “take care of it himself” if the jury did not convict Karmelo Anthony.
- Lang’s arrest follows a June 2 trespass charge related to a rally outside Frisco City Hall and a prior incident where he claimed to have entered the stadium where Anthony stabbed Austin Metcalf.
- The case drew national attention because Anthony (Black) was convicted of murdering Metcalf (white) at a Frisco track meet, sparking racist rhetoric and far‑right activity.
- Lang has a history of extremist conduct, including participation in the Jan 6 Capitol riot, for which he received a presidential pardon, and recent attempts to block the construction of a mosque, Hindu temple, and Jain temple in Frisco.
- Bail for the terror‑threat charge is set at $1 million; Lang remains incarcerated in Dallas County pending further proceedings.
On Tuesday, Texas Department of Public Safety officers arrested Jake Lang, a far‑right social‑media influencer, and booked him into the Dallas County jail on a charge of terroristic threat. According to jail records, the accusation alleges that Lang threatened to place the public in fear of serious bodily injury, disrupt public services, or influence a government decision. A representative for Lang posted on X (formerly Twitter) that he was removed from an airplane, handcuffed, and arrested after saying that if the jury did not find Karmelo Anthony guilty, he “would take care of it himself.” Bail was set at $1 million.
The arrest comes just hours after a Dallas County jury found 19‑year‑old Karmelo Anthony guilty of murder for fatally stabbing 17‑year‑old Austin Metcalf at a Frisco track meet in April 2023. Anthony was sentenced to 35 years in prison. The case, which pitted a Black defendant against a white victim, quickly became a flashpoint for racial tension, drawing nationwide media coverage and a surge of inflammatory rhetoric online. Lang, who has positioned himself as a defender of “white interests,” seized on the case to amplify his extremist messaging.
Lang’s involvement with the Anthony case is not new. On June 2 he was arrested in Collin County for criminal trespass outside Frisco City Hall during a “Rally Against Rednecks.” That incident stemmed from an April rally he organized outside the stadium where the stabbing occurred—a sparsely attended “Protect White Americans” gathering. After the rally, Lang posted a video on X claiming he had broken into the stadium and pointed to a dark streak near the bleachers, alleging it was Metcalf’s blood. School district officials countered that the footage was taken on the opposite side of the stadium from the actual crime scene and said they were pursuing charges against him for the alleged trespass. Lang was released from Collin County jail on June 3 on a $7,500 bond, with a court order barring him from coming within 200 feet of the Collin County courthouse for 30 days—a condition he reportedly violated by appearing near the courthouse during Anthony’s trial while holding a sign that read “White Lives Matter” alongside a photo of Metcalf.
Lang’s extremist background extends beyond the Anthony case. He was among the roughly 1,600 individuals pardoned by former President Donald Trump for offenses related to the January 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. Court documents show Lang participated in the Capitol riot, assaulting law‑enforcement officers and swinging a baseball bat at them, for which he faced multiple charges before receiving the pardon. After his release, Lang returned to Florida and continued to engage in provocative public actions. Most recently, he attended a Frisco City Council meeting wearing an army‑green vest adorned with a Confederate‑flag patch, where he warned council members that Muslims and Hindus were “teaming up to take over Texas” and suggested burning down mosques. Police escorted him out of the meeting for his disruptive behavior.
The current terror‑threat charge marks Lang’s second arrest this month tied to his activities surrounding the Anthony case. Legal experts note that the statement attributed to Lang—promising vigilante action if the jury did not deliver a guilty verdict—fits the statutory definition of a terroristic threat because it seeks to intimidate or influence a legal proceeding through fear of violence. As the story develops, authorities are likely to examine whether Lang’s online posts and public demonstrations constitute a pattern of intimidation aimed at influencing the judicial process or inciting further racial discord. Further updates are expected as Lang remains in Dallas County jail awaiting arraignment on the terror‑threat charge.