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Karmelo Anthony, a Texas adolescent from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, was known for his academic and athletic accomplishments before his murder conviction.
On April 2, 2025, Austin Metcalf, a white 17-year-old student at Memorial High School, was murdered by Karmelo Anthony, a black Centennial High School student of the same age, at a school track meet in Frisco, Texas.
Anthony stabbed Metcalf following a dispute, and Metcalf died from his injuries. Anthony surrendered to police shortly after the attack and was charged with murder.
He pleaded not guilty, citing self-defense. On June 9, 2026, Anthony was found guilty of murder at trial and sentenced to 35 years in jail by the jury.
Because of the race of the culprit and victim, the case received a lot of attention in the national media.
Who is Anthony Karmelo?
Karmelo Anthony was born in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and moved to North Texas with his family in 2021 to provide better chances for his children. He is the oldest of four siblings and comes from a tight-knit family.
His mother, Kayla Hayes, is a stay-at-home mom, and his father, Drew Anthony, works as a finance manager at a car dealership.
Anthony attended Frisco Centennial High School, where he excelled both academically and athletically. He maintained a 3.7 GPA while playing in various sports, including football, baseball, and track, and served as a team captain.
Who is Austin Metcalf?
Metcalf, born on July 31, 2007, was a junior at Memorial High School in Frisco, Texas. He was the football team’s MVP linebacker and also ran track and field. He played football with his twin brother, Hunter Metcalf, throughout his career.
Aside from school, he worked at Foot Locker and H-E-B for two years, juggling work, education, and athletic commitments. Before the 2025 event, he had no criminal history.
Incident
On April 2, 2025, Anthony and Metcalf, a Memorial High School student, were involved in a violent altercation at a District 11 high school track meet at Kuykendall Stadium in Frisco, Texas.
Witnesses, including Austin’s twin brother Hunter Metcalf, claimed that Metcalf challenged Anthony about his presence in a seating area and requested that he leave. Anthony allegedly stabbed Metcalf in the heart during the ensuing altercation. Metcalf perished despite police and fire personnel’s attempts to save his life.
On April 14, 2025, Judge Angela Tucker reduced Anthony’s bond from $1 million to $250,000, citing his clean criminal background and academic and athletic accomplishments. Anthony was released on bond that same day.
According to his release conditions, an adult had to watch Anthony at all times, and he was barred from accessing social media or contacting Metcalf’s family. He also had to call the judge’s bailiff every Friday morning.
On June 24, 2025, Collin County District Attorney Greg Willis announced that a grand jury had indicted Anthony for first-degree murder. Anthony was prosecuted as an adult, which meant he could face 5 to 99 years in jail, or a life sentence if convicted.
Trial and Conviction
Anthony’s trial began on Monday, June 1, in the Collin County Courthouse in McKinney, Texas. It was supposed to last two weeks, but after a brief deliberation on Tuesday, June 9, jurors found Anthony guilty of first-degree murder. Later that day, he received a 35-year prison sentence.
According to Texas Metro News, Presiding District Judge John Roach Jr. issued a gag order in July 2025, prohibiting anybody involved in the prosecution or defense from discussing the case in public. This includes attorneys, witnesses, law enforcement officers, and court personnel.
On Saturday, June 6, the Collin County chief medical examiner gave information about Metcalf’s injuries. Elizabeth Ventura testified that Metcalf was stabbed through the heart, and the wound—two and a half inches long—was not survivable.
Jurors also looked at four autopsy images, with some allegedly hiding their mouths and feeling tearful. The prosecution officially rested its case after calling 21 witnesses.
The defense rested on Monday, June 8, and the jury was sequestered the next day. They were also allowed to explore the lesser accusation of manslaughter.
Metcalf’s parents and twin Hunter were there in court when the decision was read. According to CBS News Texas, Anthony allegedly burst into tears upon the announcement.