Karmelo Anthony was sentenced Tuesday, June 9, 2026, to 35 years in prison after a Collin County, Texas, jury convicted him of murder in the fatal stabbing of 17-year-old Austin Metcalf at a Frisco Independent School District track meet, CBS Texas reported.
The case centered on an April 2, 2025 confrontation under a team tent at Kuykendall Stadium in Frisco, where prosecutors said Anthony used unjustified deadly force and defense lawyers argued he acted in self-defense.
Key Facts In the Case
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Anthony, now 19, was 17 at the time of the stabbing. Metcalf was a junior at Frisco Memorial High School, while Anthony attended Frisco Centennial High School. Police and trial reporting placed the confrontation during rainy conditions at a district track meet, after Anthony was under Memorial’s tent and was told to leave, according to ABC News.
The Frisco Police Department arrest report listed the charge as murder under Texas Penal Code 19.02(c) and recorded Anthony’s arrest on April 2, 2025. The arrest report also noted Anthony made statements to officers after the stabbing, including that he was protecting himself.
At trial, prosecutors argued the stabbing was not self-defense. Defense attorney Mike Howard told jurors Anthony had gone under the tent to get out of the rain and acted “in fear and chaos” after Metcalf pushed him. Witnesses gave differing descriptions of the physical contact before the stabbing, ranging from a smaller shove to a two-handed push.
Medical testimony became central to the prosecution’s case. Collin County Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Elizabeth Ventura testified the stab wound pierced Metcalf’s heart and was not survivable, according to courtroom coverage. Metcalf was transported to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Latest Verified Update
The jury reached a guilty verdict after about three hours of deliberation Tuesday, then returned later with the 35-year sentence. Jurors took about two and a half hours to decide the punishment, NBC 5 reported. Anthony had faced a sentencing range of five to 99 years or life in prison after the murder conviction.
Jurors also rejected the defense’s “sudden passion” argument, which could have reduced the punishment range to two to 20 years if accepted. The same jury decided both guilt and punishment.
Background And Context
The case drew national attention because it involved two high school students, a public school athletic event, a self-defense claim and intense public reaction over race and school safety. Judge John Roach imposed a gag order and barred electronics from the courtroom because of the attention surrounding the case.
The public record also shows a narrow factual question at the heart of the trial: whether Anthony’s response to the confrontation was legally justified. Prosecutors pointed to the use of a knife after a shove and argued the force was disproportionate.
Defense lawyers argued the encounter unfolded quickly and that Anthony feared for his safety. The jury rejected the self-defense theory by returning a murder conviction.
What Happens Next
Anthony was remanded after sentencing, and the case now moves from trial to post-verdict proceedings. Published reports late Tuesday focused on the verdict, sentence and victim impact statements. Any appeal or post-trial motion would require further court filings and would be handled separately from the jury’s sentencing decision.
Frisco ISD said after the verdict that it respected the judicial process and would continue supporting students “with compassion and care.” The district also asked the community to respond with respect and sensitivity as the trial’s outcome settles into a broader discussion about student safety, conflict and accountability at school events.
