DALLAS TNND) — The murder trial of Karmelo Anthony, who was accused of fatally stabbing a 17-year-old boy during a high school track meet in Texas last year, was underway on Tuesday.
Anthony, who was 17 years old at the time of the stabbing and is now 18, was charged with first-degree murder in the April 2, 2025, death of Austin Metcalf, a student-athlete at Frisco Memorial High School.
Prosecutors alleged Anthony attacked Metcalf during an argument at Kuykendall Stadium in Frisco at a track meet, with Anthony’s legal team arguing he acted in self-defense.
Video circulating on social media shows protestors outside Collin County Courthouse ahead of the trial. Dallas Morning News reported that “supporters chanted in favor of Anthony’s self-defense claim,” while others demanded justice for Metcalf and his family.
According to investigators, Anthony was sitting beneath a team tent designated for a school he did not attend when Metcalf asked him to leave. Witnesses told police the confrontation escalated, with Anthony allegedly stabbing Metcalf in the chest.
Metcalf died at the scene in the arms of his twin brother, per the Daily Mail.
Anthony has maintained that he acted in self-defense and has pleaded not guilty to the charge. His attorneys are expected to argue that he feared for his safety during the confrontation. Prosecutors, however, contend the evidence supports a murder conviction.
The case quickly became a national flashpoint, generating widespread social media attention and fundraising campaigns. Anthony’s family raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for his legal defense, while supporters of Metcalf’s family have called for justice in the teenager’s death.
Jury selection, which started on Monday, is expected to last several days as attorneys work to find jurors who can remain impartial despite extensive media coverage and online commentary surrounding the case. Opening statements are expected later this week.
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If convicted, Anthony would face a lengthy prison sentence. He was 17 at the time of the alleged offense, so he is not eligible for the death penalty.