Karmelo Anthony murder trial verdict, explained: What to know about 2025 stabbing at high school track meet

Karmelo Anthony murder trial verdict, explained: What to know about 2025 stabbing at high school track meet originally appeared on The Sporting News.
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The high-profile trial of 19-year-old Karmelo Anthony ended with a swift verdict on Tuesday, as Anthony was convicted of stabbing to death 17-year-old Austin Metcalf to death at a track meet in 2025.

The Collin County jury deliberated for only three hours before delivering the verdict, which quickly reached a crowd outside the courthouse filled with supporters of both Anthony and Metcalf.

The incident, which garnered significant media attention, took place at Memorial High School in Frisco, Texas on April 2, 2025.

Here’s what you need to know about the verdict and the facts behind the case.

Karmelo Anthony trial verdict

A Collin County jury found Anthony guilty of murder on Tuesday, after a trial that started with jury selection on June 1. Anthony was tried and convicted as an adult, as suspects aged 17 or older are treated as adults under Texas law.

Anthony will be sentenced by the same jury. His age does prevent him from receiving the death penalty or an outright sentence of life in prison without parole, but he is eligible to receive a sentence of 5-99 years.

The verdict came down Tuesday after only three hours of jury deliberations. After the verdict was read, Anthony started “crying and shaking,” Fox News’ Brooke Taylor reported.

Here’s what we know about the case.

Karmelo Anthony-Austin Metcalf stabbing case

Anthony fatally stabbed Memorial High School junior Austin Metcalf in the chest at a track meet in April 2, 2025. Anthony was arrested on charged with murder, though he pled not guilty while claiming he acted in self-defense.

The confrontation began after several Memorial High School athletes asked Anthony, who was competing for Centennial High School, to leave their team’s tent, according to multiple witnesses. 

After Anthony refused and the situation escalated, he reached into his bag and told Metcalf, “touch me and see what happens,” according to the arrest report.

The defense claimed Anthony was intimidated by Metcalf and the rest of the Memorial High School team, which included Metcalf’s twin brother, and acted in self-defense. Metcalf, however, did not have a weapon on him, and witness testimony did not support the idea that the 17-year-old physically attacked Anthony.

The case gained nationwide attention in part as a lightning rod for racial tension, but both the defense and the prosecution claimed during the trial that race was not a factor.

Who is Karmelo Anthony?

Anthony was a track athlete and football player at Centennial High School in Frisco at the time of the stabbing. He is originally from Baton Rouge and is the oldest of four children.

Anthony was elected by teammates as a captain on the football team in 2024 and was a starting defensive back until injuring his shoulder. 

Who was Austin Metcalf?

Metcalf was a 17-year-old football linebacker and track and field athlete at Memorial High School in Frisco at the time of his death. He participated in 100-meters, discus and shot put events during the 2025 season and played both sports alongside his twin brother, Hunter.

Karmelo Anthony sentence details

The same jury that convicted Anthony is now deliberating in the sentencing portion of his trial. With his murder conviction, Anthony’s sentence could range anywhere from 5-99 years. Because of his age, he is not eligible for life without parole or the death penalty.

Defense lawyers have asked jurors to consider Anthony’s actions the result of “sudden passion,” which would allow his sentence to land in the range of 2-20 years. If jurors decide Anthony committed murder under “sudden passion,” the conviction becomes a second-degree felony and allows for the lesser sentence.