Karmelo Anthony, Frisco, Texas teen found guilty of murdering Austin Metcalf during high school track meet after fight over seating escalated into fatal stabbing amid claims of self defense amid undercurrent of racial tensions.
A ‘black’ teen has been found guilty of first degree murder in the fatal stabbing of a white high school jock at a Texas high school track meet.
Karmelo Anthony, 19, sobbed, and his family burst into tears as the judge read the verdict on Tuesday. He now faces five to 99 years in prison.
The case shocked America, and the discussion surrounding the killing of a white teen by a black peer quickly became racially fraught.
Anthony claimed he was acting in self-defense when he stabbed Austin Metcalf, 17, with a folding knife after a heated argument over seating at a high school event in Frisco in April 2025.
The jury deliberated for less than three hours after the defense and prosecution delivered closing arguments.
Anthony’s mother, Kala Hayes, begged the jury to go easy on her son as they prepare to determine the length of his punishment.
‘He’s my oldest. he’s my first born. He will always be my baby. I love him very much,’ she said through tears.
‘I know my son, and he’s very sorry for what he did. Please have mercy on my son.’
News of the guilty verdict led to Anthony’s supporters alleging, ‘This whole thing’s been racist!’
The scene outside the Collin County courthouse in North Texas this afternoon ahead of Karmelo Anthony verdict pic.twitter.com/yqAp4zG1uJ
— Dallas Texas TV (@DallasTexasTV) June 9, 2026
Outside the courthouse, about 200 protesters for and against Anthony clashed.
‘This whole thing’s been racist. We didn’t make it racist!’ a protester screamed.
Another person yelled: ‘Y’all used to locking up n—as any goddamn way!’
Of note, the jury consisted of white, Asian and Hispanic members and not a single black person.
The defense had argued that Anthony had felt threatened by his victim’s whiteness and had acted in self-defense when he took out a knife (already in his possession) and stabbed the victim.
Despite claiming he had acted in self defense, Anthony declined to take the witness stand to personally give jurors his point of view. A course of action that could’ve swayed jurors against Anthony after refusing to defend his claim on the stand.
Witnesses testified that several members of Frisco Memorial High School, including Metcalf, asking Anthony, then a 17-year-old student at Frisco Centennial High School, to leave their team tent roughly 15 times.
At one point during the escalating dispute, Anthony warned Metcalf, ‘Touch me and find out,’ while his hand was in his backpack ready to grab something, witnesses said.
Metcalf eventually shoved Anthony, with the teen taking out a semi-serrated folding knife from his bag, plunging it once into the victim’s chest, according to testimony.
Metcalf’s twin brother Hunter and others rushed to try to save the mortally wounded student, while Anthony ditched his knife and made for the exit before coaches stopped him, jurors heard.
Would Austin Metcalf still be alive if he were black instead of white?
The defense had argued Anthony ‘had an absolute right to defend himself.’
‘If you wait until it’s too late to defend yourself, it’s meaningless,’ the defense said.
Prosecutors countered, ‘You don’t get to meet a shove with a stab, especially if you provoke the shove,’ according to NBC DFW.
‘Why didn’t he just walk away?’ the prosecution asked had the defendant felt threatened.
During final deliberations the prosecution told the jury they should consider Anthony’s mindset rather than his motive.
‘It’s mindset, mindset,’ the prosecution said. ‘He took a knife to a track meet. He of course felt empowered that he was going to come out on top of any encounter.’
Which is to wonder, had Austin Metcalf been black instead of white, would Anthony still have resisted his demands to leave the opposing team‘s bleachers, let alone stab the ‘white’ supporter? Had he come looking to pick a fight? Was he trying to settle a score? Would Austin Metcalf still be alive if he were black instead of white?
Anthony will now be sentenced by the jury.
