Summary (tl;dr)

A Collin County jury has found Karmelo Anthony guilty of murder in the fatal stabbing of 17-year-old Austin Metcalf at a Frisco ISD track meet in April 2025, concluding a high-profile trial that captured national attention.

Essential Background

On April 2, 2025, Austin Metcalf, a 17-year-old student from Memorial High School, was fatally stabbed by Karmelo Anthony, also 17, from Centennial High School, during a track meet in Frisco, Texas. The incident occurred after Metcalf reportedly asked Anthony to leave the Memorial High School team tent during a rain delay. Anthony was subsequently charged with first-degree murder, pleading not guilty and claiming self-defense.

The Full Story

The trial for Karmelo Anthony began on June 1, 2026, at the Collin County Courthouse in McKinney, Texas, and saw extensive testimony from witnesses, including students present during the altercation. Prosecutors argued that Anthony intentionally stabbed Metcalf, while the defense maintained he acted in self-defense. On June 9, 2026, after less than three hours of deliberation, a Collin County jury reached a unanimous verdict, finding Karmelo Anthony guilty of murder. The jury was allowed to consider a lesser charge of manslaughter in addition to murder.

Why It Matters

This verdict concludes a closely watched trial that has generated national attention and sparked discussions concerning self-defense, race, and school safety. The case also highlighted issues of online misinformation and fundraising efforts related to the incident. Anthony, who was 17 at the time of the incident and tried as an adult, now faces a potential sentence ranging from five to 99 years or life in prison.

Geographic Location

• Frisco, Collin County, Texas, United States (location of the fatal stabbing at a school track meet)
• David Kuykendall Stadium, Frisco, Collin County, Texas, United States (specific location of the fatal stabbing)
• McKinney, Collin County, Texas, United States (location of the murder trial)