Karmelo Anthony, 19, found guilty of murder of Austin Metcalf in one-week trial | Texas
After a trial that lasted just a week from jury selection to verdict, a jury in Collin County, Texas, found Karmelo Anthony, now 19, guilty of murder in the fatal stabbing of Austin Metcalf last year. The closely watched trial attracted national attention, with viral social media posts highlighting the racial nature of the case: Anthony is black; Metcalf was white. Lawyers selected 12 jurors and six alternates for the trial; None of the jurors were Black.
Anthony, of Centennial High School, and Metcalf, of Memorial High School, were 17 when they met at a Frisco Independent School District track meet in April 2025. It started to rain and caused confusion; Some athletes remained on the field while others ran for cover under team tents. Centennial did not have a tent that day, and when Anthony took shelter under Memorial’s tent, a confrontation occurred that resulted in Anthony stabbing Metcalf, who was pronounced dead shortly after arriving at a local hospital.
Anthony’s legal team argued that he acted in self-defense after being confronted by members of the Memorial high school team. The defense said Metcalf and his twin brother, who was about 6ft 1in and weighed 213lb, were confronted by Anthony, who was 5ft 8in and weighed about 130lb.
While the defense claimed Anthony was responding to “fear and chaos,” the prosecutor said Metcalf was stabbed in a “sneaky, surprise attack.”
Prosecutor Bill Wirskye said Anthony threatened Metcalf, quoting a trial witness as saying the teen told Metcalf, “Touch me and find out.” Wirskye said video evidence shown during the hearing supported the claim that others in the tent did not attack Anthony and that the incident was a one-on-one incident.
Texas law allowed Anthony to be tried as an adult, even though he was a minor at the time of the stabbing.
Texas district court judge John Roach Jr. As the verdict was read, Metcalf’s twin brother, Hunter, was in the courtroom for the first time during the hearing. Hunter Metcalf, who was on the witness list, was not allowed into the courtroom.
Anthony’s mother cried as Hunter Metcalf leaned forward when the verdict was read. Anthony burst into tears and his family left the courtroom; Anthony was taken into custody at the Collin County Sheriff’s office.
The decision also carries a sentence of five to life imprisonment. After the verdict was read, the criminal trial began.
