The verdict capped a trial focused on competing accounts of a fatal encounter at a Frisco track meet.
MCKINNEY, Texas — A Collin County jury found Karmelo Anthony guilty of murder and sentenced him to 35 years in prison after determining that his fatal stabbing of fellow student Austin Metcalf was not justified as self-defense.
The trial centered on a fundamental question: whether Anthony reasonably believed he faced a threat requiring deadly force. Prosecutors said the answer was no, describing the stabbing as an unjustified escalation of a school event dispute. Defense attorneys argued Anthony reacted out of fear during a sudden confrontation. After hearing testimony from numerous witnesses, jurors concluded the prosecution had proven its case beyond a reasonable doubt.
Evidence presented during the proceedings painted a detailed picture of the moments leading to the stabbing. The encounter occurred during a district track championship held in Frisco on April 2, 2025. Rain had driven many students beneath tents and covered seating areas. Witnesses testified that Metcalf approached Anthony after seeing him under a tent designated for Memorial High School athletes. The exchange quickly became tense. Prosecutors argued Anthony introduced deadly force into a confrontation that otherwise involved only a brief physical encounter. During closing arguments, prosecutors emphasized that disagreements among teenagers are common but rarely result in fatal violence. They urged jurors to focus on the proportionality of Anthony’s response.
The defense sought to convince jurors that Anthony perceived an immediate threat. Attorney Mike Howard argued his client had no prior relationship with Metcalf and no reason to seek a confrontation. Howard described the incident as a chaotic and frightening moment in which Anthony believed he needed to protect himself. Witness testimony varied on critical details, including the intensity of the physical contact between the two students. Some accounts described a shove, while others suggested a more forceful push. Because surveillance footage did not clearly capture the stabbing itself, jurors were required to evaluate credibility and consistency across numerous witness statements. The differing recollections became a central issue throughout the trial.
Medical testimony established the severity of the injury. Experts told jurors that the wound penetrated Metcalf’s chest and caused catastrophic damage. Emergency aid was administered at the scene before Metcalf was taken to a hospital. Despite those efforts, he could not be saved. Investigators later reconstructed the sequence of events through interviews, physical evidence and video recordings from the stadium. Anthony acknowledged responsibility for the stabbing after his arrest but maintained that he had acted to protect himself. That assertion remained the foundation of the defense strategy from the earliest stages of the case through the final day of trial.
The proceedings unfolded under heightened security and extraordinary public scrutiny. The case attracted widespread attention because both students were high school athletes and because the fatal encounter occurred during a routine school competition. Spectators lined up for courtroom access, and legal filings received significant public attention. Judge John Roach implemented special courtroom procedures because of the intense interest. Throughout the trial, attorneys repeatedly urged jurors to focus only on evidence presented in court and not on public commentary surrounding the case. Jurors ultimately delivered a unanimous verdict rejecting both self-defense arguments and lesser alternatives.
Family members from both sides filled the courtroom as the sentence was announced. Victim impact statements described the lasting effects of Metcalf’s death, while Anthony’s family asked for compassion during sentencing. The jury settled on a punishment that reflected the seriousness of the conviction while stopping short of a life sentence. Appeals are expected, but the verdict closes the trial phase of one of Texas’ most closely watched criminal cases.
Author note: Last updated June 11, 2026.