Karmelo Anthony, 19, was found guilty on June 9, 2026, of fatally stabbing 17-year-old Austin Metcalf during a high school track meet in Frisco, Texas, on April 2, 2025 [1, 2, 3, 4]. The stabbing happened under the Memorial High School team tent during a rain shower at the meet between Centennial High School (Anthony's) and Memorial High School (Metcalf's) [1, 2, 5, 3].
A Collin County jury convicted Anthony after a one-week trial that ended June 9, rejecting his claim of self-defense. The defense argued Anthony acted fearing assault after being shoved by Metcalf and others, but the jury did not accept that account [1, 2, 5, 3]. Prosecuting attorney Bill Wirskye said, "Touch me and find out," portraying Anthony as the aggressor [1]. Anthony's lawyer argued Metcalf had no legal right to use force to eject Anthony from the tent [2].
Anthony, who was 17 at the time of the stabbing, was tried as an adult under Texas law [1, 3]. He stabbed Metcalf once in the chest with a semi-serrated folding knife. Metcalf died shortly after arriving at a local hospital [1, 2, 5, 3].
The jury consisted of 12 jurors and 6 alternates with no Black members, adding to the racially charged context of the trial, as Anthony is Black and Metcalf white [1, 6]. Several public figures criticized the verdict. Rapper Cardi B tweeted, "Wow! Just freakin wow! DISGUSTING… This is not justice, this is trying to make an example!!!" [7]. Journalist Jemele Hill called it "just terribly sad" and noted the case held "hard lessons our community needs to remember" [6].
The Metcalf family has faced death threats since the verdict, while Anthony supporters have been linked to violence and confrontations near the courthouse [8, 9, 10, 11]. Two men were arrested on June 10 near the courthouse on weapons and public intoxication charges amid the tense atmosphere [9].
Anthony was sentenced to 35 years in prison and may be eligible for parole after serving half the term [5, 7, 4]. After the verdict, he was taken into custody and isolated in the Collin County Jail; he had been free during the trial [4]. Despite fundraising approximately $634,000 for legal fees, Anthony filed a notice of appeal and requested a court-appointed public defender [12].
Sentencing began June 9 and the appeals process is now underway [5, 7, 4, 12].
