Key facts
- Karmelo Anthony was convicted of murder for fatally stabbing Austin Metcalf.
- The stabbing occurred in April 2025 during a high school track meet.
- Jurors rejected Anthony's self-defense claim.
A Texas teenager has been sentenced to 35 years in prison for the murder of a rival track athlete. Jurors rejected self-defense claims after a trial that drew national attention.
The conviction and sentencing of Karmelo Anthony highlight ongoing debates surrounding self-defense laws, juvenile justice, and the impact of social media on high-profile legal cases.
A Texas teenager, Karmelo Anthony, has been convicted of murder and sentenced to 35 years in prison for the fatal stabbing of 17-year-old track athlete Austin Metcalf. The incident occurred in April 2025 during a high school track meet in McKinney, Texas. Jurors deliberated for less than three hours before rejecting Anthony's claims of self-defense and reaching their verdict.
Prosecutors argued that Anthony intentionally killed Metcalf after a confrontation escalated, while defense attorneys contended that Anthony acted in self-defense after being pushed by Metcalf. Witnesses described the confrontation beginning when Anthony refused to leave a tent belonging to Metcalf's team, leading to a heated exchange and physical altercation. The prosecution presented evidence including eyewitness testimonies and the medical examiner's description of a large wound to Metcalf's chest that pierced his heart.
Anthony, who was 17 at the time of the murder, was charged as an adult under Texas law. The case garnered significant attention, partly due to social media discussions that framed the killing in racial terms, as Anthony is Black and Metcalf was white. However, both legal teams emphasized to the jury that the tragedy was not about race. Jeff Metcalf, Austin's father, also denounced attempts to stoke racial divisions.