Karmelo Anthony, 17 at the time, faces first-degree murder charges for stabbing fellow student Austin Metcalf during an April 2025 track meet in Frisco, Texas. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
The stabbing occurred during a rainstorm at the 11-5A championship district meet. Anthony, Black, sat under a tent belonging to Metcalf's white team, sparking a dispute that escalated. [1, 5] Witnesses say Anthony warned Metcalf, "touch me and see what happens," before stabbing him with a 3.5-inch folding knife. [1, 5]
Metcalf, 17, bled heavily and died later in hospital despite CPR efforts. [2, 4, 5] Anthony fled but was stopped by coaches before leaving the stadium; he was immediately arrested and reportedly told police, "I'm not alleged, I did it." [2, 4, 5]
Anthony was released on $250,000 bond and placed under house arrest, allowed to finish high school while awaiting trial. [2]
Jury selection ran from June 3 to 5, with 600 summonses issued. The final panel included 12 jurors and 6 alternates but no Black jurors. Defense attorneys accused prosecutors of racially excluding Black jurors. The judge accepted state claims that Black jurors were removed because many were educators. [1, 3]
Prosecutor Bill Wirskye told jurors, "This case has nothing to do with race. This case is not self-defense. Unjustified provoked murder — that’s why we’re here this morning." [2, 4] Meanwhile, defense attorney Mike Howard said Anthony acted in self-defense, stabbing only once in fear and chaos before running away. Howard said, "After Karmelo defended himself with that knife, he ran. He didn’t stab again. He dropped the knife. He didn’t stab anyone else." [2]
Jurors saw grainy surveillance footage of the stabbing and heard a frantic 911 call from coaches trying to save Metcalf. [1, 4] Witnesses testified to Metcalf's final words, including "he f------ stabbed me" and "I have been stabbed." [2, 5]
The case has drawn sharp public and social media divisions along racial lines, further complicating the proceedings. [1, 3, 4]
Civil rights groups criticized the prosecution's jury strikes, stating, "The prosecution used its final strikes to remove the remaining qualified Black jurors from the jury pool, raising serious concerns about fairness and equal justice." [1]
Legal analysts noted jurors often decide cases early in trial. Texas defense attorney Jeremy Rosenthal said, "Eighty percent of jurors make up their mind at opening statement and they never change it." [4]
The trial continued with emotional witness testimony on June 6 focusing on Metcalf’s final moments and the confrontation leading to the stabbing. [5]
