The Karmelo Anthony murder trial is set to start. A look at the case

The murder trial against Texas teenager Karmelo Anthony, who is accused of fatally stabbing fellow student Austin Metcalf during a high school track meet last year, is getting underway this week.

Jury selection began Monday, June 1 and will continue to Wednesday, June 3 at the Collin County Courthouse in McKinney, Texas, according to ABC News, which cited a court spokesperson. Opening statements could begin Thursday, June 4 if a jury is seated. USA TODAY reached out to the Collin County Courthouse to confirm.

CBS News reported that prospective jurors arrived at the courthouse Monday, June 1 amid heightened security as the closely watched case entered a new phase. Demonstrators gathered outside the courthouse, including supporters of both the Anthony and Metcalf families, while members of the public and media were permitted to watch proceedings from an adjacent courtroom via a live video feed.

Anthony was indicted on a first-degree murder charge in the April 2025 death of 17-year-old Metcalf at a track meet in Frisco, Texas. Anthony has maintained that he acted in self defense.

As the trial begins, here's what to know about the case.

What is Karmelo Anthony accused of?

Anthony, who attended Centennial High School at the time of the incident and has since graduated, is accused of fatally stabbing Metcalf, a student at Memorial High School, during a track meet at Kuykendall Stadium in Frisco on April 2, 2025.

A Collin County grand jury indicted Anthony on a first-degree murder charge in June 2025 after reviewing evidence in the case. Anthony had previously been arrested on a murder charge and later released on a $250,000 bond.

What happened at the track meet?

According to an arrest warrant affidavit previously obtained by USA TODAY, the confrontation began after a dispute between the two teenagers during the meet.

A school resource officer who responded to the scene reported that Anthony allegedly said, "I was protecting myself" after being ordered to put his hands up. Authorities said Anthony admitted stabbing Metcalf and asked whether the teen would be OK.

Austin Metcalf died from his injuries. Both teenagers were 17 years old at the time of the incident.

What is Anthony's defense?

Anthony has maintained that he acted in self defense.

His attorney, Mike Howard, said after the indictment that the defense believes prosecutors will be unable to eliminate reasonable doubt about whether Anthony acted to protect himself during the encounter.

Anthony's family has also urged the public not to judge the case outside the courtroom, saying he will defend himself "in a court of law, not in the court of public opinion."

How have the families responded?

Austin's father, Jeff Metcalf, welcomed the indictment last year and said he believed "justice will be served" through the court process, while acknowledging that no outcome would bring back his son.

The family also marked a recent moment of remembrance when Austin’s twin brother, Hunter Metcalf, accepted a posthumous diploma on his behalf during a May graduation ceremony.

In a GoFundMe tribute, Jeff Metcalf described his son as a bright young man with a promising future.

Anthony's family said after the indictment that it was "a moment we hoped we would never face" and urged the public not to litigate the case on social media.

Anthony's mother, Kala Hayes, also said during an April 2025 news conference that her family had faced threats and harassment in the aftermath of the stabbing.

Why has the case drawn national attention?

The case has generated widespread attention far beyond North Texas, fueled by competing accounts of the confrontation, Anthony's self-defense claim and extensive discussion on social media.

The case has also been marked by controversy, racial tensions and public demonstrations. As jury selection began, supporters of both families gathered outside the courthouse alongside activists and online personalities, highlighting the intense public interest surrounding the proceedings.

Reporter Anthony Thompson can be reached at [email protected], or on X @athompsonUSAT