Karmelo Anthony murder trial opens with 911 call, emotional testimony
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
Jurors in the Karmelo Anthony murder trial heard a frantic 911 call, watched surveillance footage and heard emotional testimony Thursday from coaches and trainers who tried to save Austin Metcalf after the Texas teenager was stabbed at a high school track meet.
Anthony, 19, pleaded not guilty to the stabbing death of Metcalf in April 2025 and claimed he acted in self-defense. The case has received national attention and intense public scrutiny since the fatal encounter.
Texas defense attorney and legal analyst Jeremy Rosenthal told Fox News Digital that the first day of testimony emphasized that central battle jurors must decide whether Anthony’s actions constituted a crime or were legally justified as self-defense.
“The defense accepts some of the burden here because if they want the jury to be educated on self-defense, they have to prove that immediate statement,” Rosenthal said. he said.
CARMELO ANTHONY TRIAL ignites rival camps who are THREATENING TO HAVE THE HEADS OF JURIES WITH STABBING: EXPERT
The departure of Karmelo Anthony (left) and Austin Metcalf. Anthony is accused of stabbing Metcalf to death on April 2, 2025, during a track and field meet in Frisco, Texas. (FOX4; Jeff Metcalf)
Rosenthal also noted that opening statements can have a huge impact on jurors.
“Eighty percent of jurors make up their minds in the opening statement and never change it,” he said, citing his trial advocacy work.
Controversy has engulfed the case, and tensions rose after a non-black jury was selected on Wednesday.
Demonstrators support Austin Metcalf outside the Collin County Courthouse in McKinney, Texas, during the first day of jury selection in Karmelo Anthony’s trial on June 1, 2026. (Derek Shook for Fox News Digital)
Demonstrators show support for Karmelo Anthony outside the Collin County Courthouse in McKinney, Texas, on the first day of jury selection in his trial on June 1, 2026. (Derek Shook for Fox News Digital)
On Thursday, supporters of both Anthony and Metcalf argued outside the courthouse, holding signs, swearing and shouting at each other as enemies.
WATCH: Crowds gather outside courthouse during Karmelo Anthony trial
Prosecutors and defense offer conflicting stories
Collin County prosecutor Bill Wirskyke called the stabbing “an unjustly provoked murder” and told jurors: “This case has nothing to do with race. This case is not self-defense.”
Defense attorney Mike Howard argued that Anthony reacted in “a moment of fear and chaos” and urged jurors to focus on the evidence rather than the public narrative that has developed around the case.
Defense attorney Mike Howard gives his opening statement in a courtroom rendering from the Collin County courthouse during Karmelo Anthony’s murder trial. (Pat Lopez)
🔎Do you know something we should look into?
📩 Send story tips to: stepheny.price@fox.com
📸 Share photos on Instagram: @fndstephprice
🎥 Send compelling video and breaking news footage on X: @Stephenyprice
🗞️ Your information could help uncover the next big story.
Jury heard 911 call, saw camera footage
Jurors watched security footage from multiple cameras around Kuykendall Stadium and later heard a 911 call made immediately after the stabbing.
17-year-old Karmelo Anthony was arrested and charged with first-degree murder in the stabbing death of Texas track and field star Austin Metcalf. (FOX4)
The caller reported that CPR was performed and that an athlete had been stabbed and lost consciousness.
TRAIN ATTACK VIDEO Reignites Fury OVER HIDDEN FOOTAGE OF AUSTIN METCALF KILLING
NBC 5 He reported that voices could be heard in the background urging Metcalf to continue fighting, while another person said, “There’s a lot of blood. He’s not breathing.”
File photo of Austin Metcalf, a student at Memorial High School in Frisco, who was allegedly stabbed in the chest by 17-year-old Karmelo Anthony, a Frisco Centennial High School student-athlete. (Courtesy of Jeff Metcalf)
The publication reported that Metcalf’s last breath could be heard on the recording.
TEXAS TRACK SAID STABBING SUSPECT TO AUSTIN METCALF ‘SEE WHAT HAPPENS’ WHEN TENT DISPUTE TURNED FATAL: DOCUMENTS
Metcalf’s family could be heard crying as the call was played. Anthony had his eyes closed for most of the 7-minute interview.
THE TWIN SISTER OF THE MURDERED TEXAS TEEN, THE GRIEVING MOTHER SPEAK: ‘I LOST MY BEST FRIEND IN THE LINK OF THE EYE’
A courtroom rendering depicts Karmelo Anthony and his defense team as jurors watch surveillance video during Anthony’s murder trial for the fatal stabbing of Austin Metcalf at a track meet in Frisco, Texas. (Pat Lopez)
Rosenthal said the security footage may be some of the most important evidence presented during the trial.
“I think jurors in the 21st century really expect there to be some kind of video evidence, like surveillance or cell phone,” he said.
TEXAS JURY VERIFIED IN THE STABBING DEATH OF A HIGH SCHOOL CLASSMATE IN 2022: REPORT
“You have a group of teenagers and no one seems to have cell phone video of it, which is surprising in some ways,” he added. “A picture is worth a thousand words.”
WATCH: Heated debate rages outside Karmelo Anthony murder case
Witnesses describe efforts to save Metcalf
Memorial High School athletic trainer Tiffany Whiteaker testified that she ran to help Metcalf and performed CPR until paramedics arrived.
He said he saw a commotion in the stands and heard screams, and a student ran up to him and pointed at Anthony, saying, “He stabbed him and threw the knife into the stands.”
Murder suspect Karmelo Anthony is released from prison after paying bail. (KDFW)
Whitaker testified that he stepped in front of Anthony, threw his hands up and told coach Vincent Hooper not to let him go.
He said he performed CPR and used an AED until paramedics arrived and Metcalf was taken to the hospital, where he later died.
TEXAS FATHER SPOKE AFTER HIS SON’S STABBING DEATH AT A HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETICS MEETING
The state then called Joshua Rebmann, a military veteran and football coach who was one of the first adults to reach out to Metcalf.
Joshua Rebmann testifies in Karmelo Anthony’s trial for trying to save Austin Metcalf. (Pat Lopez)
Rebmann used his military training to save the teenager before concluding that he would not survive.
GOT A TIP?
“Stay with me, Austin. Stay with me, Austin,” he is heard saying in the background of the 911 call: FOX 4 reported. “Come on Austin. Come on Austin.”
KARMELO ANTHONY FAMILY REPRESENTATIVE DOUBLED THE ATTACK ON AUSTIN METCALF’S FATHER: ‘NOT APPROPRIATE’
Jurors were shown the bloody jacket Rebmann used when he tried to stop the bleeding.
WATCH: Father speaks out after son stabbed to death at athletics meet
Coaches explained what happened
Heritage High School coach Vincent Hooper testified that Anthony told him, “He put his hands on me. I stabbed him.”
Hooper also testified that Anthony became emotional after warning him that if Metcalf died, it would change his life forever.
“You know if he dies, you’re going to change your life for the rest of your life,” Hooper told Anthony.
According to Hooper, Anthony replied, “He will not die.”
GET BREAKING NEWS BY EMAIL
Memorial High School athletic trainer Robert Starr testifies during the murder trial of Karmelo Anthony, in a courtroom sketch from Collin County, Texas. (Pat Lopez)
Memorial High School track coach Robert Starr became emotional as he described finding Metcalf injured.
“You can’t go into someone else’s tent uninvited,” Starr said, referring to team tents at track meets.
CLICK HERE FOR OTHER USA NEWS
What to watch on Friday?
As testimony continues Friday, Rosenthal said one of the key questions will be whether the witnesses closest to the shooting will tell a coherent story.
“I view this case as a stone thrown into a pond,” Rosenthal said. “You have the epicenter and then you eliminate all the waves.”
CLICK TO DOWNLOAD FOX NEWS APPLICATION
“What’s going to be interesting is, who is the person who goes out there and goes against the rules and says something that no one else is saying?” he added.
Other witnesses are expected to testify Friday as prosecutors continue to build their case and jurors continue to weigh Anthony’s claim of self-defense.
Fox News’ Brooke Taylor, Sarah Alegre and Peter Cuddihy contributed to this report.
