Karmelo Anthony, the Texas teen who stabbed another high schooler to death during a track meet, has been convicted of murder.
According to NBC News, jurors deliberated for less than three hours before returning the guilty verdict in connection to the April 2025 death of Austin Metcalf, 17, a student on a rival track team.
The decision comes amid a swell of public attention and national debate surrounding the case, including as to whether Karmelo’s actions were in self-defense.
What happened to Austin Metcalf?
On April 2, 2025, officers from the Frisco Police Department responded to reports of a stabbing at a track meet at Memorial High School.
According to authorities, then-17-year-old Karmelo and Austin, got into an altercation, which ended when Austin was fatally stabbed.
Witnesses told police that students were huddled under a tent at the track to avoid the rain when Austin told Karmelo to leave the reserved area, according to a probable cause affidavit previously viewed by Oxygen.com.
In response, Karmelo allegedly told Austin, per the affidavit, “Touch me and see what happens,” leading to a fight.
“Austin grabbed [Karmelo] to tell him to move, and [Karmelo] pulled out what [a witness] recalled as a black knife and stabbed Austin once in the chest and then ran away,” according to witness statements obtained by Oxygen.com. “Austin began grabbing his chest and telling everyone to get help.”
When police arrived, Karmelo allegedly claimed he was protecting himself, according to charging documents. Then, when a school officer referred to Karmelo as the “alleged suspect,” Karmelo allegedly responded, “I’m not alleged; I did it,” according to the charging documents. “He put his hands on me. I told him not to.”
Despite life-saving efforts, Austin died from his injuries, authorities confirmed at the time.
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How did the Karmelo Anthony trial play out?
Karmelo was arrested for murder and pleaded not guilty, according to court records viewed by Oxygen.com.
His trial began on June 1 and hinged upon whether he’d acted in self-defense when he stabbed Austin.
Karmelo’s defense attorney, Mike Howard, did not immediately request for comment from Oxygen.com during the proceedings. According to NBC News, Howard argued in court that his client reacted to “fear and chaos.”
“After Karmelo defended himself with that knife, he ran,” he said, per the outlet. “He didn’t stab again. He dropped the knife. He didn’t stab anyone else.”
Meanwhile, the prosecution argued that Karmelo’s use of force was unjustified.
Among the evidence they presented was testimony from Collin County Chief Medical Examiner Elizabeth Ventura, who shared that Austin was stabbed through the heart, with the knife leaving a “gaping” two-inch stab wound, according to Fox 7.
What happens next for Karmelo Anthony?
Karmelo, now 19, was 17 years old at the time of the fatal incident. In Texas 17-year-olds are considered adults in the criminal justice system, according to the Collin County District Attorney’s Office.
Now, the teen’s trial has moved into the sentencing phase, CBS News reports.
Before it began, Karmelo’s mother asked the jury to “please have mercy on [her] son,” according to NBC News, saying he was “very sorry for what he did.”
With his conviction, Karmelo faces a sentence of five to 99 years, or life, in prison.