AT A GLANCE
- Opening arguments began Thursday in the Karmelo Anthony murder trial in Collin County.
- Anthony, who is Black, is accused of fatally stabbing Austin Metcalf, who was white, during a Frisco track meet.
- None of the 12 jurors or six alternates selected are Black.
- Prosecutors called the case “unjustified provoked murder,” while the defense says Anthony acted in self-defense.
Fatal Frisco Track Meet Stabbing Left Austin Metcalf Dead In His Twin Brother’s Arms
The Karmelo Anthony trial is now underway in Collin County, where prosecutors and defense attorneys opened with sharply different accounts of the fatal stabbing that killed 17-year-old Austin Metcalf during a high school track meet in Frisco.
Anthony, now 19, is charged with murder in connection with the stabbing. He has pleaded not guilty.
The case has drawn national attention and sparked intense online debate, much of it centered on race. Anthony is Black. Metcalf was white.
“This case has nothing to do with race,” Texas prosecutor Bill Wirskye said during opening statements. “This case is not self-defense. Unjustified provoked murder — that’s why we’re here this morning.”
Anthony’s defense attorney, Mike Howard, argued that his client acted out of fear during a chaotic confrontation.
“After Karmelo defended himself with that knife, he ran. He didn’t stab again. He dropped the knife. He didn’t stab anyone else,” Howard said.
No Black Jurors Selected
The trial began after a jury was selected Wednesday following hours of questioning from both sides. The final panel includes 12 jurors and six alternates. None are Black.
Defense attorneys accused prosecutors of improperly striking the only three Black candidates left in the jury pool. Prosecutors said the strikes were race-neutral because all three were educators.
District Judge John Roach Jr. sided with prosecutors and allowed the strikes to stand. The jury reportedly includes several people of color, but no Black jurors.
Next Generation Action Network, a civil rights organization supporting Anthony, said it was “outraged” by the jury makeup.
“The prosecution used its final strikes to remove the remaining qualified Black jurors from the jury pool, raising serious concerns about fairness and equal justice,” the organization said. “We respect the court, but we will not remain silent.”
What Prosecutors Say Happened
Prosecutors say Anthony stabbed Metcalf in the chest after a confrontation under a tent during a rainy track meet.
Metcalf’s father, Jeff Metcalf, has said his son was killed after another student armed with a knife became upset when he was told he was in the wrong spot. Austin Metcalf’s twin brother, Hunter Metcalf, was reportedly holding him after the stabbing and trying to stop the bleeding. Their father previously said Austin died in his brother’s arms.
“They were twins, identical twins, and his brother was holding on to him, trying to make it stop bleeding, and he died in his brother’s arms,” Jeff Metcalf said at the time.
During opening statements, prosecutors said Austin Metcalf’s last words were, “I’ve been stabbed.” Wirskye also argued that Anthony’s actions after the stabbing showed guilt.
“He tossed the knife immediately after. Why toss the knife? Someone who’s scared doesn’t do that,” Wirskye said.
Defense Points To Self-Defense
Anthony’s defense team is expected to center the case on self-defense.
During jury selection, Howard asked prospective jurors whether they would hold it against someone who chose to “stand their ground” and defend themselves rather than walk away from a threat.
The defense also raised questions about Texas law on carrying knives, suggesting the knife found at the scene may have been small enough to legally carry in public.
Howard’s opening argument framed Anthony’s actions as a response to “fear and chaos,” not murder.
The trial’s first witness was a video expert who analyzed security footage showing Anthony and Metcalf scuffling before Anthony ran toward the stadium exit.
The second witness was Robert Starr, a Frisco Memorial High School track and assistant football coach.
The testimony marks the beginning of what is expected to be a closely watched trial over the next two weeks.
Case Has Drawn National Attention
The Anthony case has become a flashpoint in Texas and beyond.
About 600 Collin County residents were summoned for jury duty Monday. By Wednesday morning, that group had been narrowed to roughly 250 prospective jurors before the final panel was seated.
Legal experts say larger jury pools are often used in high-profile cases where pretrial publicity could make it harder to find jurors who can be fair.
Outside the courthouse, supporters of both Anthony and Metcalf have gathered during the proceedings. The case has also drawn attention from right-wing influencers and online commentators.
Earlier this week, Frisco police arrested Jake Lang, a far-right influencer and Jan. 6 defendant pardoned by President Donald Trump, on a criminal trespass warrant tied to an incident at Kuykendall Stadium, where the stabbing happened.
Frisco ISD previously confirmed trespassing charges were filed after Lang posted a video online showing he had entered the stadium after Metcalf’s death.
Anthony Faces Five Years To Life If Convicted
Anthony was 17 at the time of the stabbing, but in Texas, 17-year-olds are treated as adults in the criminal justice system.
If convicted, he could face five years to life in state prison.
Anthony was released after posting a $250,000 bond and has since been under house arrest. He was allowed to graduate from high school, though Next Generation Action Network said he was not allowed to participate in senior graduation activities.
The organization said Anthony finished with a 3.7 GPA.
A crowdfunding page created by Anthony’s representatives has raised more than $600,000 to help cover legal fees and moving costs.
As testimony continues, jurors will be asked to decide whether Anthony’s actions meet the legal standard for murder or whether he acted in self-defense during a confrontation that ended with one teenager dead and another facing the possibility of life in prison.
