A Texas jury has found 19-year-old Karmelo Anthony guilty of murder in the fatal stabbing of fellow teenager Austin Metcalf during a high school track meet, concluding a closely watched trial that has drawn nationwide attention.
The verdict was delivered after a one-week trial in Collin County, where prosecutors argued that Anthony fatally stabbed Metcalf during an altercation at Kuykendall Stadium in Frisco in April 2025. Anthony had been tried as an adult under Texas law.
The case centered on a confrontation between the two students during a rainy track meet, when Anthony was under a team tent. Witnesses testified that an argument escalated quickly before Metcalf was stabbed in the chest. Metcalf died at the scene despite emergency response efforts.
Anthony’s defense team argued that he acted in self-defense, claiming he felt threatened during the encounter and pointing to the size difference between the two teenagers. Prosecutors, however, maintained that the stabbing was a deliberate act rather than a defensive response.
After the verdict, Anthony was taken into custody as sentencing proceedings are expected to determine whether he will face a prison term ranging from several years to life, as allowed under Texas law.
The trial also drew wider public attention beyond the courtroom, with discussions online reflecting deep divisions over how the case should be interpreted. Both families attended proceedings, with emotional moments reported during testimony and closing phases.
Metcalf’s family described the verdict as a step toward justice, while supporters of Anthony continue to argue that the circumstances were not fully reflected in the outcome, underscoring how the case has become part of a broader national conversation around youth violence, self-defense claims, and courtroom fairness.
Sentencing is expected in the coming days.