What is happening
On 9 June 2026, a Collin County jury found Karmelo Anthony guilty of murder in the fatal stabbing of Austin Metcalf at a Frisco Independent School District track meet on 2 April 2025 . The jury deliberated for approximately three hours before reaching its verdict . Anthony was sentenced to 35 years in prison following further deliberation . He was transported to a Texas Department of Criminal Justice facility after being booked into Collin County Jail .
One day after the verdict, Anthony filed a notice of appeal . Minister Dominique Alexander pledged $10,000 toward the appeal effort .
The incident occurred at Kuykendall Stadium during a rainy track meet involving multiple Frisco ISD schools . According to witness testimony cited by CBS News and Fox 4 News, an argument developed when Anthony, a student at Centennial High School, sought shelter under the Memorial High School tent . Students testified that Anthony was asked to leave the tent repeatedly — as many as 15 times, according to CBS — but refused . The confrontation escalated when Metcalf, a Memorial student, leaned in to push Anthony, and Anthony stabbed him in the chest with a folding knife . Metcalf died in the arms of his twin brother, Hunter .
Prosecutors, as reported by ABC News and CNN, argued that the stabbing was intentional and not self-defence, describing it as a "sneak, surprise attack" . The defence maintained that Anthony acted in fear during the confrontation . Anthony confessed to the stabbing when arrested, telling officers "I'm not alleged, I did it," and said he was protecting himself .
Dr Elizabeth Ventura, the Collin County chief medical examiner, testified that Metcalf died from a stab wound that pierced his heart .
Why it matters
The case has drawn national attention and exposed deep racial divisions in Collin County and beyond . Anthony is Black; Metcalf was white . The trial proceeded with a jury that included no Black members, prompting a Batson challenge from the defence . District Judge John Roach Jr accepted prosecutors' explanation that three Black prospective jurors were struck because they were educators, not for racial reasons .
According to the Dallas Morning News, elected officials, celebrities, and civic organisations issued statements following the verdict, with some questioning the fairness of the proceedings . The Collin County NAACP, as cited by the Dallas Morning News, expressed anger and raised concerns about race and sentencing . The Collin County Young Democrats criticised the verdict .
Protests erupted outside the Collin County Courthouse after the verdict was announced, with supporters of both Anthony and Metcalf clashing . The Dallas Morning News reports that deputies broke up confrontations and about 14 officers stood guard . Multiple people were arrested outside the courthouse during the trial, according to NBC DFW .
The case became a flashpoint online, with false accusations and racist attacks directed at the Anthony family . Jake Lang, pardoned by President Donald Trump, posted repeatedly on X calling Anthony a "black thug," according to KERA News . Frisco Police Chief David Shilson and Collin County District Attorney Greg Willis both urged the public to beware of misinformation .
Jeff Metcalf, Austin's father, told the court he has been the target of multiple swatting calls and called the public response to his son's murder "sickening" . He condemned those who seized on the race of the teenagers after the killing .
Who is involved
Karmelo Anthony was 18 at the time of the stabbing and was tried as an adult . He was a student at Centennial High School with a 3.7 GPA, according to testimony cited by NBC News and Fox 26 . He had been on house arrest with an ankle monitor after his bond was reduced from $1 million to $250,000 .
Austin Metcalf was a 17-year-old student at Memorial High School. His father, Jeff Metcalf, described him as having a bright future . His twin brother, Hunter, and parents Megan and Jeff delivered emotional victim impact statements at sentencing .
Collin County District Attorney Greg Willis led the prosecution, which called 21 witnesses . Defence attorney Mike Howard argued that Anthony acted in self-defense .
Community advocate Bruce Carter, the Collin County NAACP, and the Next Generation Action Network have been vocal in the case . Krystal Muhammad, national chair of the New Black Panther Party for Self-Defense, condemned the verdict as racist and unfair, according to the Dallas Morning News .
What to watch next
The appeal process will unfold in coming months . Minister Dominique Alexander's pledge of $10,000 signals organised support for Anthony's legal efforts .
The racial tensions exposed by the case are unlikely to subside quickly. Community members told CBS News they are worried about the impact of the verdict on Collin County . The Washington Post reported that the city was already struggling with racial divisions before the trial .
The Metcalf family has started a scholarship in memory of Austin . Whether the appeal succeeds in overturning the conviction or securing a new trial will depend on arguments over jury selection, the adequacy of the self-defence instruction, and other procedural matters that are not yet public.
The case has become a reference point in broader debates over self-defence law, racial justice in the criminal system, and the role of social media in shaping public perception of pending trials.