Texas teenager sentenced to 35 years in prison for killing a fellow student at an athletics competition
Carmelo Antunnow 19, was found guilty of murder Austin Metcalf in Frisco, Texas, in 2025.
A Texas teenager accused of fatally stabbing one of his peers during a Dallas-area high school sporting event was convicted by a jury Tuesday.
The racially charged trial of Carmelo Anthony in the death of Austin Metcalf in April 2025 drew national attention, sparking a debate about self-defense and school safety. Both were 17 years old when the incident happened.
Prosecutors argued that Anthony threatened Metcalf before intentionally killing him, but defense attorneys argued that Anthony acted in self-defense.
Anthony was sentenced to 35 years in prison. The incident happened while the young men were at a high school competition.
According to police sources, Metcalf’s death was caused by an escalating feud between two rival high schools.
Anthony was 17 at the time of the killing on April 2, 2025, but under Texas law, he can be tried as an adult.
Anthony was a minor when Metcalf died; therefore, the death penalty was not considered.
During the trial, prosecutors called nearly two dozen witnesses and focused their evidence on eyewitness accounts.
Collin County Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Elizabeth Ventura gave one of the most emotional statements, describing a huge, gaping hole in Metcalf’s chest and claiming the knife pierced his heart.
Prosecution student witnesses identified Anthony as the attacker. The defense also called several witnesses, including students and track coach Adam Linwood, who testified that Anthony had been nominated to captain the team.
Anthony excelled in school, earning near-perfect grades and a 4.0 grade point average (GPA), according to the Dallas-based NBC News affiliate.
Prosecutors said the two young men did not go to the same school and were not in a previous relationship.
On Tuesday, a Texas jury reached a guilty verdict in less than three hours.
The civil rights organization Next Generation Action Network, which advocated for Anthony, noted that none of the jurors were black.
Judge Roach allowed them to examine the manslaughter charges, which carry a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.
“Our community has carried the weight of this tragedy for over a year and our thoughts are with the families, friends and schoolmates affected.” the Frisco school district said in a statement after the verdict.
We respect the court process and will continue to provide compassionate and caring support to our students. We recognize that this trial has caused strong emotions and deep loss, and we encourage our community to continue to support each other with respect, compassion and understanding.”
