A Texas jury has found Karmelo Anthony guilty of murder after the Texas high school stabbing of Austin Metcalf, a case that gained national attention after the fatal incident at a Frisco track meet. The verdict was delivered on Tuesday, June 9, 2026, more than a year after Metcalf, 17, was stabbed during a district-wide high school track meet in the Dallas area. For more updates on major legal stories and breaking news, visit Hollywood Unlocked.
Anthony, who was 17 at the time of the stabbing and is now 19, was charged as an adult under Texas law. Following the guilty verdict, he now faces a sentence ranging from 5 to 99 years or life in prison. Sentencing is expected to determine how much time he will serve.
Metcalf, also 17, died on April 2, 2025, after he was stabbed during the track meet. The event included students from Anthony’s Centennial High School and Metcalf’s Memorial High School. According to reports, the confrontation happened near Memorial High School’s team tent during rainy weather at the meet.
The case centered on whether Anthony acted in self-defense or committed murder. His defense team argued that he was confronted by members of the rival track team and felt threatened. Prosecutors argued that the stabbing was not justified and presented evidence to support the murder charge.
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A Texas jury delivered a guilty verdict against Karmelo Anthony in connection with the 2025 stabbing death of Austin Metcalf. The verdict came after jurors heard arguments from both the prosecution and defense about what led to the fatal confrontation during the high school track meet.
Texas District Court Judge John Roach Jr. read the verdict in court. Before the verdict was announced, Roach had cautioned those inside the courtroom to control their emotions. However, emotions were still visible after the decision was delivered. Metcalf’s twin brother was present in court, while Anthony’s mother was seen in tears. Anthony’s attorney also remained beside him as the verdict was read.
Metcalf died after being stabbed during the April 2025 track meet in Frisco, Texas. The event included athletes from several schools, including Centennial High School and Memorial High School. Anthony attended Centennial, while Metcalf attended Memorial.
During the trial, Anthony’s defense team claimed he acted in self-defense after being confronted while sitting in Memorial’s team tent. The defense argued that the situation became tense and that Anthony believed he was in danger.
Prosecutors rejected that argument. They said Anthony escalated the confrontation and that the stabbing met the legal standard for murder. Prosecutor Bill Wirskye quoted trial testimony that Anthony allegedly said, “touch me and find out,” before the stabbing.
Wirskye also told jurors, “The stabbing is murder, murder, murder.”
The jury ultimately agreed with the prosecution and returned a guilty verdict. Anthony’s sentencing will determine the final punishment in the case.
Prosecutors argued that Karmelo Anthony was responsible for Austin Metcalf’s death and that the evidence did not support the defense’s self-defense claim. During closing arguments, prosecutor Bill Wirskye told jurors that the confrontation was not a group attack against Anthony.
According to the prosecution, the situation involved a direct confrontation between Anthony and Metcalf. Prosecutors said other students in the tent did not attack Anthony or create the level of threat described by the defense. They also pointed to video evidence shown during the trial, which they said supported their version of events.
Wirskye argued that Anthony made a threatening statement before the stabbing. He quoted a witness who said Anthony warned, “touch me and find out.”
The prosecution used that statement to argue that Anthony was not simply reacting out of fear. Instead, prosecutors said his actions showed intent and led to Metcalf’s death.
“The stabbing is murder, murder, murder,” Wirskye stated during closing arguments.
Prosecutors also focused on the fact that Metcalf was unarmed when the confrontation happened. They argued that Anthony’s use of a knife was not legally justified under the circumstances presented in court.
The jury later found Anthony guilty of murder. The verdict means jurors agreed that prosecutors proved the charge beyond a reasonable doubt.
Karmelo Anthony’s defense team argued that he acted in self-defense during the confrontation that led to Austin Metcalf’s death. His attorney, Mike Howard, told jurors that Anthony was confronted by members of the rival track team while he was in Memorial High School’s tent.
Howard argued that Anthony felt pressured and intimidated during the encounter. He said Anthony believed the situation could become physical and that he reacted because he thought he was in danger.
In closing arguments, Howard told jurors that the prosecution did not prove Anthony did “anything but defend himself” when Metcalf and others confronted him over being in the tent.
Howard also argued that students often moved between tents during track meets, especially during bad weather. He said Anthony had been invited into the tent and was not there to cause trouble.
“Is it reasonable to worry these kids might jump in, that (Metcalf’s brother) might pop in to defend (Metcalf)… because in that split second of chaos, you can’t predict what’s about to go down?” Howard argued.
The defense tried to show that Anthony reacted in a tense and fast-moving situation. However, prosecutors disputed that claim and said the evidence did not support self-defense.
After reviewing the evidence and hearing from both sides, the jury rejected the self-defense argument and found Anthony guilty of murder.
After being found guilty of murder, Karmelo Anthony now faces the sentencing phase of the case. Because he was charged as an adult under Texas law, he faces a possible sentence of 5 to 99 years or life in prison.
The sentencing decision will determine how long Anthony remains behind bars. The court may consider several factors, including the details of the case, Anthony’s age at the time of the stabbing, the impact on Metcalf’s family, and arguments from both the prosecution and defense.
Anthony was 17 when the stabbing happened and is now 19. Although he was a minor at the time of the incident, Texas law allowed prosecutors to charge him as an adult. That decision made him eligible for adult sentencing.
Metcalf’s family is also expected to have an opportunity to address the court during the sentencing process. Victim impact statements are often used to explain how a crime affected a family and community.
Anthony’s defense team may also present arguments asking for a lower sentence. They may focus on his age, background, and their position that the confrontation happened during a tense moment at a school event.
The guilty verdict marks a major development in the case, but the legal process is not fully over until sentencing is complete.
Karmelo Anthony is a former Centennial High School student who was charged as an adult in connection with the fatal stabbing of Austin Metcalf during a 2025 high school track meet in Frisco, Texas.
Austin Metcalf was a 17-year-old Memorial High School student who died after being stabbed during a district-wide track meet on April 2, 2025.
Yes. A Texas jury found Karmelo Anthony guilty of murder after the Texas high school stabbing of Austin Metcalf.
Anthony faces a possible sentence of 5 to 99 years or life in prison. The final sentence will be decided during the sentencing phase.
Anthony’s defense argued that he acted in self-defense after being confronted by members of the rival track team near Memorial High School’s tent.
Prosecutors argued that Anthony was not acting in self-defense and that the stabbing met the legal standard for murder.
Karmelo Anthony has been found guilty of murder after the Texas high school stabbing of Austin Metcalf. The verdict followed a trial focused on whether Anthony acted in self-defense or committed murder during a confrontation at a Frisco track meet.
The jury sided with prosecutors, who argued that the stabbing was not justified. Anthony now faces a possible sentence of 5 to 99 years or life in prison. Sentencing will decide the next major step in the case.