Karmelo Anthony Sentenced To 35 Years For Fatal Stabbing Of Austin Metcalf In Frisco

A Collin County jury convicted 19-year-old Karmelo Anthony of murder and sentenced him to 35 years in prison for the fatal stabbing of 17-year-old Austin Metcalf at a track meet in Frisco on April 2, 2025.

“- Jury rejected teen's self-defense claim, convicted him of murder and sentenced him to 35 years in prison - Families on both sides remain devastated, with public opinion turning against the convicted teen - Teen's parents maintain he did not get a fair trial and plan to appeal the conviction Despite the pain and frustration this family must be feeling, they are resilient and are determined to reach justice”

Bossip

CBS News reported that Anthony’s mother, Kala Hayes, said her son “didn't mean to hurt anyone” and “was defending himself,” while the jury deliberated for less than three hours before convicting him.

Bossip

The case was tried in the Collin County courthouse, and CBS News said Anthony is currently being held at a Texas Department of Criminal Justice facility northwest of Houston.

Houston Public Media reported that during the punishment phase, Anthony’s mother Kayla Hayes asked the jury for mercy, saying, “Please have mercy on my son,” and that the defense attorney Mike Howard asked jurors to consider sudden passion.

Prosecutors argued the stabbing was an unjustified attack, and Houston Public Media quoted prosecutor attorney Bill Wirskye telling jurors, “mercy to the guilty is cruelty to the innocent.”

After the verdict, Anthony’s father Andrew Anthony told CBS News, “It's unfortunate, it's where nobody wins,” and said the family believes they “didn't get justice.”

CBS News also reported that Jeff Metcalf described the verdict as bittersweet and said he has forgiven Anthony so he doesn’t “carry the rage, the hate and that around.”

CBS News

Bossip, citing CBS News, reported that Anthony’s parents said they have continued to receive death threats even after the conviction and sentencing, with Andrew Anthony saying, “People want us dead.”

Bossip further reported that Andrew Anthony said, “They want our family dead,” while the family vowed to continue fighting the conviction through the appeals process.

CBS News said Anthony’s legal team filed a notice of appeal on Wednesday, and it quoted Andrew Anthony arguing, “What stuck out to me, No. 1, was the all-White jury.”

Jeff Metcalf told CBS News that the bodycam footage of Austin Metcalf’s fatal stabbing “killed him” when it was shown during the trial in McKinney, Texas.

“Topline The parents of Karmelo Anthony, a Black teenager whose murder trial and sentencing sparked a racial debate in the suburbs of Dallas, spoke out on Thursday, questioning the racial makeup of the jury and saying they’ve received death threats”

Forbes

New York Post reported that Metcalf said he could hear Austin’s twin Hunter screaming “Oh, God, oh God. My brother, my twin,” as first responders tried to save Austin after the stabbing during the track meet.

The New York Post said Anthony was sentenced to 35 years in prison and faces a parole review in 17 years, and it quoted Jeff Metcalf saying, “If I’m still alive, yes, I will be there in person.”

Houston Public Media reported that Anthony’s defense attorney Mike Howard asked jurors to consider sudden passion, while prosecutor attorney Bill Wirskye argued that sudden passion “does not apply to this case and this set of facts.”

Forbes reported that Andrew Anthony questioned the racial makeup of the jury and said he believes his son was “already convicted” in the court of public opinion before the trial began, while Jeff Metcalf told CBS News, “Yesterday, I had a death threat, this morning had multiple emails, texts threatening me.”