Texas murder trial under way with 19-year-old accused of stabbing fellow high schooler | US crime

Testimony is emerging in the murder case of a 19-year-old accused of fatally stabbing a high school friend during a track meet in Texas more than a year ago.

The case attracted national attention amid debate over racial tensions because the defendant, Karmelo Anthony, was black and the slain 17-year-old Austin Metcalf was white. Prosecutors allege Anthony stabbed Metcalf during a Frisco independent school district track meet at Kuykendall Stadium on April 2, 2025.

Metcalf died while being taken to the hospital. Anthony was charged with first-degree murder and pleaded not guilty.

a jury Without black member We heard the opening statements of both sides. Bill Wirskye, first assistant district attorney for Collin County, told jurors that the case “had nothing to do with race”; He argued that Anthony took a knife and “buried it into the heart of another young man, causing his death, and then ran away.”

Defense attorney Mike Howard focused on the moments leading up to the stabbing, noting that Anthony was 5 ft 8 inches and about 130 lbs, while Austin, like his twin brother Hunter Metcalf, was about 6 ft 1 inch and 215 lbs.

Howard argued that Metcalf initiated a physical confrontation with Anthony, while Anthony made a “splash decision” out of fear.

Jurors were also shown both unaltered and enhanced security footage of the stadium. Records show students gathered under a school tent bearing the logo of Metcalf high school Memorial. There appeared to be a scuffle at the back of the tent shortly before the stabbing. accordingly CBS.

The footage then showed the students running away from the tent, Anthony leaving the area, and the police following him and detaining him near the stadium.

Memorial athletic trainer Robert Starr testified that he found Metcalf lying on the ground a short time later, while several witnesses described the aftermath of the stabbing.

“I get there and my memory is a little spotty, but I see Austin lying on the ground and his face is purple,” Starr said. “And there’s a hole in his chest.”

Starr said he was later told Anthony “did it.”

Heritage High School head football coach Vincent Hooper testified that he spoke with Anthony, a Centennial High School student, shortly after the stabbing.

“He said, ‘He put his hands on me,'” Hooper told the jury. “’I stabbed him.’”

Hooper added: “I don’t think he thought he stabbed her where he stabbed her.”

Jurors also heard from school police officer Eduardo Cortez, who is said to have been the first among Frisco officials to encounter Anthony.

“I had the suspect put his hands up in the air,” Cortez said. “I gave him instructions. I advised him to handcuff the suspect and take him into custody.”

According to Cortez, Anthony responded: “I’m not betting, I did it.”

Cortez also testified that he had “some blood on his left middle finger.”

Another Frisco police officer, Jacob Shalz, testified about the recovery of the murder weapon, which he said was found “about three to four rows above the scene of the crime.” Photos shown to jurors depicted a blood-stained, 5-inch folding knife, CBS reported.

A Memorial varsity track and field athlete who witnessed the shooting also testified. The student said several athletes repeatedly asked Anthony to leave the team tent. He recalled Anthony refusing and Metcalf saying, “You need to go.” Anthony then reportedly replied: “Touch me and find out.”

“Austin leans in to push him and Karmelo stabs him,” the witness said. “Karmelo’s hands were in his backpack and we thought it was a bluff.”

Describing the physical contact between the two children, the witness said: “I wouldn’t say it was a light push or a hard push. I would say it was more of something in between.”

Anthony was sitting with a backpack on his lap and the backpack in his hands when Metcalf approached him, according to the witness. The student testified that Metcalf pushed Anthony with both hands on his shoulders; Anthony then pulled a knife from the bag, pushed Metcalf and stabbed him in the chest.

If convicted, Anthony could face five years to life in prison. His trial began Monday with jury selection and could last two weeks.