A Texas jury has convicted Karmelo Anthony of murder and sentenced him to 35 years in prison for the fatal stabbing of 17-year-old Austin Metcalf during a high school athletics event in Frisco, Texas.
The verdict was delivered after jurors rejected Anthony’s claim that he acted in self-defence during a confrontation beneath a school team tent at a track meet in April 2025. Anthony, who admitted carrying out the stabbing, will be eligible for parole after serving half of his sentence.
The courtroom became highly emotional following the sentencing as members of Metcalf’s family delivered victim impact statements. Austin’s father, Jeff Metcalf, condemned Anthony’s actions and spoke of the lasting devastation caused by his son’s death, while Austin’s twin brother, Hunter, described the profound loss his family continues to endure. Austin’s mother told the court that although Anthony had received a prison sentence, her family had effectively been handed a lifetime without their son.
The case centred on a dispute that unfolded during a rain-soaked track meet attended by students from several North Texas schools. Witnesses testified that Anthony, who attended a different school, had been sitting beneath Memorial High School’s tent when students repeatedly asked him to leave. According to testimony, the exchange became increasingly heated before turning physical. Witness accounts differed on the exact nature of the contact between the two teenagers, but all agreed that Anthony then produced a knife and stabbed Metcalf in the chest.
Prosecutors argued that Anthony unnecessarily escalated a verbal disagreement into a deadly encounter. They called more than 20 witnesses, including students, investigators and forensic experts, many of whom testified that Metcalf was unarmed and that the level of physical contact before the stabbing did not justify the use of deadly force. Jurors also heard evidence that Anthony later told police he had carried out the stabbing after Metcalf put his hands on him.
The defence maintained that Anthony feared for his safety after being confronted by a larger student and physically touched during the argument. Defence lawyers highlighted inconsistencies in witness recollections and pointed to testimony suggesting Anthony was outnumbered and felt threatened. However, after only a few hours of deliberation, jurors found Anthony guilty of murder and later determined the killing did not occur in a moment of “sudden passion”, a finding that exposed him to a significantly longer prison sentence.
Outside the courthouse, supporters of both teenagers gathered as the case concluded. Demonstrations had accompanied the trial for months, with debates over self-defence, race and justice drawing national attention. Authorities maintained a strong police presence and reported several arrests following confrontations between opposing groups. Despite the public controversy, Austin Metcalf’s family repeatedly urged people to focus on the loss of their son and the evidence presented in court.
Collin County District Attorney Greg Willis said the verdict reinforced that acts of violence would not be tolerated and pledged continued support for victims and their families. The case closes one of the most closely watched criminal trials in Texas in recent years, stemming from a tragedy that claimed the life of a teenager described by friends, classmates and coaches as a respected leader and role model.
