Karmelo Anthony has been sentenced to 35 years in prison for the fatal stabbing of fellow student Austin Metcalf during a high school track meet in Frisco, Texas. The incident occurred on April 2, 2025, when both young men, then 17 years old, were attending the event at Kuykendall Stadium.
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():format(jpeg)/Family-Texas-Teenager-Accused-Killing-Rival-Raising-80K-040625-5796983362ae4c2fb21d8fd9875ae627.jpg)
The confrontation began when Anthony was allegedly sitting under a tent designated for Metcalf’s school. According to eyewitness accounts detailed in a police affidavit, Metcalf asked Anthony to vacate the area. The situation escalated rapidly after a verbal exchange where Anthony purportedly warned Metcalf, “Touch me and see what happens.” The witness observed that Metcalf then reached out to move Anthony, prompting Anthony to draw a knife from his bag and stab Metcalf in the chest.
Despite immediate medical attention, Metcalf succumbed to his injuries shortly after arriving at the hospital. Following the incident, law enforcement quickly identified and apprehended Anthony. An officer reported that when confronted, Anthony claimed responsibility for the act, stating, “I did it,” but insisted he was acting in self-defense, asserting, “He put his hands on me. I told him not to.”
On June 24, 2025, Collin County District Attorney Greg Willis announced that Anthony would face a grand jury indictment for first-degree murder. Under Texas law, individuals aged 17 and older are treated as adults, meaning Anthony would be tried in adult court. In a press release, Willis expressed the community’s shock at the “violent loss” of Metcalf’s life and committed to a principled judicial process. Austin’s father, Jeff Metcalf, stated his belief that justice would be served but acknowledged that it could never bring his son back.
Initially, Anthony’s bond was set at $1 million, later reduced by the presiding judge to $250,000. After posting bail, he was released with an ankle monitor and permitted to await trial in a secure location due to increased public scrutiny. Throughout the legal proceedings, Anthony and his defence team have maintained that he acted out of self-defence. His attorney, Deric Walpole, expressed confidence in Anthony’s claims, stating the need to thoroughly investigate the circumstances before making definitive statements.
Investigation into the incident revealed that Anthony had a knife in his possession, raising further questions about what transpired. His other attorney, Mike Howard, defended his client’s right to self-defence and highlighted the tragic implications for both families involved, reiterating that there are always two sides to any story.
In contrast, Metcalf’s family has been vocal in their grief and frustration following their son’s death. Jeff Metcalf has openly rejected assertions linking the stabbing to racial motives and has publicly called out groups attempting to exploit the tragedy for their agendas. He was notably removed from a press conference where the Anthony family addressed the media, underscoring the heightened tensions surrounding the case.
After a trial marked by intense emotional exchanges, a jury found Anthony guilty of murder after a deliberation period of roughly three hours. On June 9, 2026, the court sentenced him to 35 years in prison, with the possibility of parole after serving half of his sentence. During the sentencing hearing, members of the Metcalf family delivered poignant victim impact statements, highlighting the profound loss they have endured. Meghan Metcalf stated, “You may have just been given a sentence of 35 years, you should feel lucky because I’ve been sentenced to a life without my son.”
The death of Austin Metcalf has left a significant mark on the community as friends, family, and schoolmates grapple with the aftermath of such a shocking event. The case serves as a stark reminder of the potential consequences of violence, especially among young people. As Karmelo Anthony begins his prison sentence, the impact of this tragedy will likely be felt for years to come by all those affected.