A Collin County jury on Tuesday convicted 19-year-old Karmelo Anthony of murder in the fatal stabbing of 17-year-old Austin Metcalf during a high school track meet last year, rejecting Anthony’s claim that he acted in self-defense.
Anthony broke down in tears as the verdict was read in the courtroom, reported The Daily Caller. Jurors reached their decision after less than four hours of deliberation, just hours after closing arguments concluded.
The stabbing occurred on April 2, 2025, during a Frisco Independent School District track meet. Metcalf, a student-athlete at Memorial High School, confronted Anthony after the teen entered his team’s tent area. Anthony attended a different school.
According to testimony presented during the trial, Metcalf repeatedly asked Anthony to leave the tent. Anthony instead reached into his backpack, pulled out a knife and stabbed Metcalf in the heart. Metcalf collapsed and died in the arms of his twin brother.
Prosecution witnesses who were inside the tent described a brief confrontation that escalated after Anthony ignored repeated requests to leave. One witness testified that Anthony placed his hand inside his bag and warned five times, “Touch me and see what happens,” while Metcalf remained calm and said he would not touch him.
Anthony pleaded not guilty and maintained that he acted in self-defense. But prosecutors argued that the evidence did not support that account.
A key defense witness initially claimed Anthony had been surrounded by other students before the stabbing. Video footage later showed that the witness had his back turned to the tent and could not have seen the confrontation unfold.
During cross-examination, prosecutors challenged the witness directly.
“You know you’re wrong?” the prosecution asked.
“Yes, sir,” the witness replied.
Prosecutors also rejected the defense argument during closing statements, urging jurors to convict Anthony of murder rather than the lesser offense of manslaughter.
“If you think Metcalf impaled himself on Anthony’s knife, find him guilty of manslaughter,” one prosecutor told the jury.
“It’s not self defense folks,” the prosecutor continued. “It’s murder. Murder. Plain and simple.”
Jurors agreed, finding Anthony guilty of murder. Judge Roach immediately moved the proceedings into the sentencing phase, where the same jury will determine Anthony’s punishment. He faces between five and 99 years in prison or a life sentence.
The case drew national attention because of the setting of the attack, the ages of the teens involved and the debate over Anthony’s claim of self-defense. Anthony surrendered to authorities shortly after the stabbing.
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One young man would still be alive and another wouldn’t be facing 35 years in prison IF the killer had simply walked away as asked. Nah, gotta take it over the top for being ‘dissed’.