COLLIN COUNTY, TX. (THECOUNT) — Karmelo Anthony has been found guilty of murder in connection with the fatal 2025 stabbing of 17-year-old Austin Metcalf during a track meet in Frisco, Texas, after a Collin County jury rejected Anthony’s claim of self-defense.
The verdict was returned Tuesday following several hours of jury deliberations in a case that drew widespread attention across North Texas and beyond due to the circumstances of the confrontation and the age of those involved.
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Anthony now faces sentencing ranging from 5 to 99 years in prison under Texas law.
Prosecutors said the case stemmed from a confrontation that occurred under a team tent during a school track meet in Frisco in April 2025. Investigators alleged the dispute escalated into a violent encounter that ended when Metcalf was stabbed once in the chest.
Metcalf, a teenager and student athlete, was pronounced dead following the incident. The case was immediately treated as a homicide investigation by local authorities, with Frisco police and Collin County prosecutors working jointly to gather evidence and witness statements.
During the trial, jurors heard testimony from students, coaches, and law enforcement officials who responded to the scene. Prosecutors also presented surveillance video, body camera footage, and emergency 911 calls placed during the aftermath of the stabbing.
One of the most emotional portions of the proceedings involved footage showing first responders attempting lifesaving measures on Metcalf after the attack.
Prosecutors argued that Anthony initiated or escalated the confrontation and transformed a dispute into a deadly encounter. They maintained that the evidence did not support a claim of lawful self-defense.
The defense, however, argued that Anthony acted in self-defense during the confrontation under the team tent. Defense attorneys maintained that the circumstances leading up to the stabbing supported their client’s version of events and that he should not be held criminally responsible for murder.
Jurors ultimately rejected the self-defense argument and returned a guilty verdict on the murder charge.
Evidence presented during the trial included testimony from law enforcement investigators who reconstructed the scene at the Frisco track meet facility. Officials described a chaotic environment following the incident as emergency personnel responded to reports of a stabbing during the athletic event.
The knife involved in the incident was also discussed during the proceedings. A Frisco police detective testified that the knife carried by Anthony was legal under Texas law and permitted within the venue, though prosecutors argued the legality of the weapon was not the central issue in the case.
The trial lasted more than a year after Anthony was indicted on murder charges. He was initially held on a $1 million bond, which was later reduced to $250,000. He entered a plea of not guilty prior to trial.
The case has been closely followed in Collin County, a rapidly growing region north of Dallas that includes the cities of Frisco, McKinney, and Plano. The area is known for large school districts, youth athletic programs, and organized sporting events that frequently draw students from across North Texas.
Frisco, where the fatal incident occurred, is one of the fastest-growing cities in the United States and serves as a major hub for youth and professional sports facilities. The city hosts numerous school competitions and athletic events throughout the year.
The track meet where the stabbing occurred took place at a school athletic facility used for regional competitions involving multiple schools and teams. Authorities previously confirmed that the incident happened under a team tent during the event, prompting an immediate emergency response and subsequent cancellation of portions of the meet.
Following the verdict, Anthony will remain in custody pending sentencing. A formal sentencing hearing is expected to determine the length of his prison term within the statutory range provided under Texas law.
The Collin County criminal justice system will continue processing post-trial motions and sentencing procedures in the coming weeks.
The case remains one of the most closely watched violent crime trials in the region due to its circumstances and the age of the victim, as well as the national attention it received throughout the legal proceedings.
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