Karmelo Anthony is appealing murder conviction. Latest on contentious case

Karmelo Anthony, the Texas teenager found guilty of killing a student from a rival school in a stabbing at a track meet, has filed an appeal of his conviction, court records show.

The notice of appeal was filed the day after Anthony, 19, was convicted of murder and sentenced to 35 years in prison in the killing of 17-year-old Austin Metcalf in Frisco, Texas, in April 2025. Anthony was also 17 at the time of the stabbing, which rocked the affluent community outside Dallas and has inflamed racial tensions.

A jury found Anthony guilty June 9, and the appeal was filed June 10, records show. As of June 11, court records showed the status of the case as "appealed."

The Collin County jury that sentenced him to 35 years could have delivered a sentence of anywhere from two years to life behind bars.

Anthony was a student at Centennial High School, and Metcalf attended rival Memorial High School. Anthony's attorneys said he stabbed Metcalf in self-defense on April 2, 2025. Prosecutors said Anthony started a confrontation in a tent at the track meet, provoking Metcalf into shoving him, and then stabbed Metcalf.

USA TODAY reached out to Anthony's defense attorneys regarding the appeal.

Defense attorney Mike Howard told CBS News Texas that Anthony's team gave the notice of appeal after court concluded June 9.

"We believe there are several important issues for the appellate courts to consider. An appeal is the next part of the legal process and a right afforded every American," Howard said in the statement.

Court records also show Anthony has filed a packet to request an attorney because of financial hardship.

Karmelo Anthony found guilty of murder

The trial began with jury selection on June 1. Jurors were shown graphic video footage from the scene and heard emotional testimony, according to news outlets reporting from the courtroom. The judge in the case banned any cameras or audio recording during trial.

Some student athletes testified that Anthony entered Metcalf's tent to say hello to a friend but got defensive when he was asked to leave, CBS reported. Multiple witnesses agreed Anthony provoked Metcalf into pushing him. School resource officer Eduardo Cortez testified that when he reported having the "alleged suspect" in handcuffs, Anthony said: "I'm not alleged. I did it." Cortez said Anthony also asked whether Austin would be OK, according to CBS.

Anthony's defense attorney pointed to Metcalf and his twin brother as the aggressors and said they initiated the physical contact, which prompted Anthony to defend himself.

Anthony's mother, Kala Hayes, told jurors she believed Anthony regretted what he did.

"Please have mercy on my son," Hayes said, according to NBC DFW. "He'll always be my baby."

Victim's family speaks out

During sentencing, Metcalf's parents addressed Anthony. Meghan Metcalf decried that she has to have all her conversations with her son at his graveside.

"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. He didn't just die. He was taken from us. Just as he was starting to live."

Austin Metcalf's twin brother, Hunter Metcalf, accepted a posthumous diploma on his behalf at a graduation ceremony in May.

This story has been updated to add new information.

Contributing: Christopher Cann, N'dea Yancey-Bragg and Amanda Lee Myers