Texas teen Karmelo Anthony convicted of murder in fatal track meet stabbing
Karmelo Anthony, 19, found guilty of killing Austin Metcalf, 17, during April 2025 confrontation at Frisco stadium.
3:57 PM
A Collin County jury found Karmelo Anthony guilty of murder Tuesday in the fatal stabbing of 17-year-old Austin Metcalf during a Frisco ISD track meet. Anthony, now 19, was charged in connection with the April 2, 2025, killing at Kuykendall Stadium in Frisco.
The jury deliberated for approximately three hours before reaching its verdict after four days of testimony. Prosecutors argued Anthony intentionally stabbed Metcalf during an altercation between the two teenagers. Anthony's defense team contended he acted in self-defense.
The confrontation occurred under a team tent at the track and field event. According to testimony, a dispute arose over seating, with Anthony initially under the tent belonging to Frisco Memorial High School, where Metcalf attended. When Metcalf asked Anthony to leave, the situation escalated. Metcalf was stabbed once in the chest.
During closing arguments Tuesday, Anthony's defense attorney Mike Howard argued that Metcalf "had no legal right" to use force to eject Anthony from the tent. Howard noted it was raining during the event and that someone from Frisco Memorial had allegedly invited Anthony under their tent to stay dry. The defense maintained that Anthony faced a threat from Metcalf and his brother, who were described as larger teenagers.
The jury heard testimony from dozens of witnesses over several days, including students who witnessed the confrontation, law enforcement investigators, medical experts and character witnesses called by the defense. Jurors also reviewed surveillance footage, body camera footage and 911 calls from the scene.
A detective from Frisco Police Department's Crimes Against Children unit testified that the knife Anthony carried that day was legal to possess in Texas and legal to bring into a stadium.
Anthony did not testify during the trial. A 17-year-old teammate of Anthony testified Monday that Anthony appeared "distraught" in the moments after the stabbing, describing the "chaos" that ensued at the track meet.
The trial drew national attention and heavy security at the courthouse in McKinney. The case sparked debate over self-defense, race and school safety. Anthony and Metcalf attended separate schools in Frisco, one of Texas' fastest-growing cities.
Anthony faces between 5 and 99 years in prison upon sentencing. He was arrested shortly after the stabbing.