Karmelo Anthony gets 35 years for track meet stabbing murder

A Texas teenager has been found guilty of murder and sentenced to 35 years in prison for stabbing a student from a rival high school in a case that drew nationwide attention.

The Collin County jury found 19-year-old Karmelo Anthony guilty of murder on Tuesday, June 9, in the stabbing of 17-year-old Austin Metcalf in Frisco, Texas. Hours later, the jury sentenced him to 35 years in prison, according to court spokesman Steve Stoler.

Jurors could have sentenced Anthony to as little as two years in prison or up to the rest of his life behind bars.

Anthony, who attended Centennial High School at the time, has always maintained he stabbed Austin, a student at Memorial High School, in self-defense.

Anthony's mother, Kala Hayes, tearfully told jurors she believes he regrets what he did, NBC DFW reported. She asked jurors: "Please have mercy on my son. ... He'll always be my baby."

As part of the sentencing hearing, Austin's parents addressed Anthony directly. Meghan Metcalf said her son was a peacemaker and protector and recalled how she would scratch his back as he told her about his day. Now, she said, her conversations are one-sided and done at her son's graveside, NBC DFW reported.

"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," she told Anthony, the outlet reported.

"My son was murdered," she said. "He didn't just die. He was taken from us. Just as he was starting to live."

Here's what you need to know about the case and the trial.

Emotional testimony details shocking stabbing

The trial, which began with jury selection June 1, included emotional testimony from eyewitnesses and graphic video footage of the chaotic event, CBS News reported. The judge in the case banned cameras, livestreams and audio recording inside the courtroom and imposed a gag order on attorneys, witnesses, investigators and others involved in the proceedings, WFAA reported.

Several student athletes who were not identified publicly testified that Anthony entered Austin's tent to say hello to a friend and then quickly got defensive when he was asked to leave, according to CBS. Teen witnesses, including one who testified for the defense, agreed that Anthony provoked Austin into pushing him and said they were surprised Anthony brought a weapon to the track meet.

Memorial High School head track coach Rob Starr told jurors he heard the commotion begin around 10 a.m. on April 2, 2025, and found Austin with a "hole in his chest."

Eduardo Cortez, a school resource officer, testified that when he reported having the "alleged suspect" in handcuffs, Anthony replied: "I'm not alleged. I did it." Cortez said Anthony also asked whether Austin would be OK, according to CBS.

Prosecutor Bill Wirskye told jurors Anthony started the confrontation with Austin, immediately admitted he stabbed him and told bystanders Austin touched him first "as if it justifies the murder he just committed," NBC DFW reported.

"You don't get to meet a shove with a stab, especially if you provoke the shove," Wirskye later said in his closing argument, according to the outlet.

Anthony's attorney, Mike Howard, painted Austin and his twin brother as the aggressors, according to NBC DFW. Howard said Anthony warned Austin not to touch him and had a right to defend himself after Austin initiated physical contact.

"There is no evidence Karmelo did anything but really think he was defending himself in that split second of chaos," Howard said June 9.

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

Tensions rose ahead of trial

The case "struck a deep nerve" in the North Texas community and beyond, Collin County District Attorney Greg Willis said when announcing the grand jury indictment of Anthony. "When something like this happens at a school event, it shakes people to the core."

Anthony was allowed to receive his high school diploma but was barred from graduation festivities. Austin’s twin brother, Hunter Metcalf, accepted a posthumous diploma on his behalf at the graduation ceremony in May.

Supporters of both families have donated hundreds of thousands of dollars through online fundraisers.

Hayes said at a news conference in April 2025 that her family has endured harassment, death threats, rumors and the leak of their home and work addresses.

"Whatever you think that happened between Karmelo and the Metcalf boys, my three younger children, my husband and I didn't do anything to deserve to be threatened, harassed and lied about," she said.

Austin's father, Jeff Metcalf, tried to attend that news conference but was escorted from the building by Dallas police, Fox 4 reported. The Metcalfs' empty home was "swatted" just hours later when Frisco police received a call about a gunshot at the address, according to local media reports.

Metcalf said at a memorial service for his son that he had forgiven Anthony, KDFW-TV reported. After the indictment, he told local media that he was "pleased that we are moving forward" and that "justice will be served" for his son.

Meanwhile, the social justice organization Next Generation Action Network has raised concerns about "double standards" in the case against Anthony and expressed outrage at the jury selection process.

"The prosecution used its final strikes to remove the remaining qualified Black jurors from the jury pool, raising serious concerns about fairness and equal justice," the group said on social media.

Contributing: Anthony Thompson, Melina Khan, Saleen Martin, Jonathan Limehouse and Anthony Robledo