A witness shot down Karmelo Anthony’s self-defense claim in bombshell testimony Saturday, claiming the accused killer provoked Austin Metcalf before their deadly encounter.
Anthony apparently antagonized Metcalf during the fatal April 2025 confrontation at David Kuykendall Stadium, the 17-year-old student told the Collin County, Texas courtroom.
The Frisco Memorial High School student, who went to school with Metcalf, saw the stabbing from nearby bleachers, he said when questioned by a prosecutor.
Despite Anthony’s claim that he whipped out a weapon to protect himself while being ambushed by Metcalf and his brother Hunter, the witness said he didn’t see anyone crowding around the alleged murderer.
Karmelo Anthony’s self-defense claim was shot down by a witness who testified that the then-17-year-old “tried to provoke us” and “committed murder.” Frisco Police Department
“That’s lethal force against non-lethal,” he said after proclaiming that Anthony, 19, did not act in self defense, CBS reported.
The witness said he believed Anthony, a student at Frisco Centennial High School, had refused to leave the rival team’s tent.
Anthony, who has been out on bond since the stabbing, has pleaded not guilty and faces life behind bars if convicted.
The two rival schools were competing in the district’s 11-5A championship, which included more than 100 students from eight different schools, according to NBC.
The witness was horrified when he saw Metcalf suddenly covered in blood, collapsing to the ground – a sight which sent him and other students fleeing in terror, the witness said.
“You don’t expect someone to get stabbed at a track meet,” he replied when asked if he was surprised by the unprompted act of violence.
The witness emphasized that his track team’s competition was supposed to have been on the other side of the stadium at the time of the fatal stabbing.
Defense attorney Toby Shook grilled the young witness about his written statement to authorities.
Austin Metcalf was allegedly murdered by Karmelo Anthony. Meghan Prall Metcalf/Facebook
“Do you remember in your written statement saying Austin put his hand on [Anthony’s] shoulder to intimidate?” Shook asked.
“Yes,” the student replied, per CBS. “More of a warning. Actions speak louder than words.”
A second witness echoed the belief that Anthony was the aggressor.
Other witnesses, including one who knew Anthony, echoed the belief that the suspect was the aggressor and that he was asked to leave the tent several times before the fatal escalation.
They recalled Anthony keeping his hands hidden in his backpack until Metcalf shoved his shoulders to try to get Anthony out of their tent – then described the alleged killer pulling out a knife and stabbing the victim.
Anthony “tried to provoke us” when he was told to leave the tent, a 15-year-old witness claimed, adding Anthony got “irritated.”
“He committed murder,” the 15-year-old student asserted.
A 16-year-old student athlete, who knew Metcalf since middle school, painted a vivid picture of the moments leading up to the bloodshed.
He said he was sitting under the tent with Metcalf and his other teammates when Anthony waltzed over and took a seat next to him on the bench.
Here’s the latest on Karmelo Anthony’s murder trial following the fatal stabbing of Austin Metcalf
“Crazy weather, huh?” Anthony bizarrely asked, according to the witness.
The Memorial team was instantly confused and told Anthony, a stranger, to leave – but he allegedly refused and became aggressive, the witness claimed.
“F–k y’all,” Anthony allegedly started saying, the student said, according to Fox 4. Anthony wasn’t yelling, he said under cross examination.
“F–k y’all. I’m not going to leave. Y’all are a bunch of p–sies. Y’all not going to do anything.
“Touch me and see what happens.”
Police investigate the fatal stabbing at David Kuykendall Stadium where Austin Metcalf died. Fox4
“I’m not going to fight you,” Metcalf allegedly replied.
A teen who was on Memorial’s team but knew Anthony — but said he wouldn’t describe Anthony as a friend — started crying on the witness stand because he was angry with the alleged-killer.
Metcalf was “always leading” and “protecting” their teammates, that witness said.
Describing the gruesome scene after the stabbing, another teen said Metcalf was blue and purple on the ground as he bled profusely.
According to Metcalf’s peers and prosecutors, his harrowing final words included “he stabbed me” and “I’ve been stabbed.”
Collin County chief medical examiner Dr. Elizabeth Ventura said Metcalf was left with a “gaping” hole in his chest.
When she stood before the court, the heartbroken Metcalf family chose to leave the room – sparing themselves from viewing the victim’s autopsy photos.
Testimony in the expected two-week trial kicked off Thursday after a jury of 18, including six alternates and no black panelists, was selected.
Despite backlash from Anthony’s supporters, Judge John Roach Jr. determined the decision to rule out the three black prospective jurors had nothing to do with race, but with the fact that they were all educators.
Over the course of the trial, prosecutors expect to call 35 witnesses to the stand.