Texas Teen Convicted of Murder
Texas teen murder conviction
A Collin County jury has returned a guilty verdict for murder against 19-year-old Karmelo Anthony, concluding a high-profile trial regarding the fatal stabbing of 17-year-old Austin Metcalf. The incident occurred on April 2, 2025, at Kuykendall Stadium in Frisco during a high school track competition. After deliberating for approximately three hours, the jury rejected the defense’s argument that Anthony, who was 17 at the time of the event, acted in self-defense when he stabbed Metcalf once in the chest.
The trial, which drew national attention, centered on a confrontation that broke out under a team tent during a period of inclement weather. Testimony provided by numerous student witnesses indicated that Anthony had been repeatedly asked to vacate the tent, which belonged to the team representing Memorial High School.
Prosecutors described the encounter as a “sneak, surprise attack,” alleging that Anthony instigated the violence by reaching into a bag for a knife after telling the victim, “Touch me and see what happens.” Defense attorneys maintained that the act was a split-second reaction to physical provocation from Metcalf, who was described as larger than the defendant.
Throughout the proceedings, legal teams on both sides emphasized that the tragedy was not racially motivated, despite widespread social media discourse that attempted to frame the case through a racial lens. The jury ultimately opted for a murder conviction over the lesser option of manslaughter, which Judge John Roach Jr. had allowed them to consider. Anthony now faces a sentencing range of five to 99 years or life in prison. The court has moved directly into the sentencing phase of the trial, where the same jury will determine the final penalty, as detailed in ongoing courtroom reporting.
