Carmelo Antunthe Texas teenager from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, was known for his academic and athletic achievements before he was convicted of murder.
On April 2, 2025. Austin MetcalfA 17-year-old white student at Memorial High School was killed by Karmelo Anthony, a black student at Centennial High School of the same age, at a school competition in Frisco, Texas.
Anthony stabbed Metcalf after an argument, and Metcalf died from his injuries. Anthony turned himself in to police shortly after the attack and was charged with murder.
He pleaded not guilty, citing self-defense. On June 9, 2026 Anthony was found guilty of murder at trial and a jury sentenced him to 35 years in prison.
Because of the race of the perpetrator and the victim, the case received a lot of attention in the national media.
Who is Anthony Carmelo?
Karmelo Anthony was born in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and moved with his family to North Texas in 2021 to give his children a better chance. He is the eldest of four siblings and comes from a close-knit family.
His mother, Kayla Hayes, is a stay-at-home mom, and his father, Drew Anthony, works as a finance manager at a car dealership.
Anthony attended Frisco Centennial High School, where he excelled academically and athletically. He maintained a 3.7 grade point average while playing a variety of sports, including football, baseball and track, and served as team captain.
Who is Austin Metcalf?
Metcalf, born July 31, 2007, was a junior at Memorial High School in Frisco, Texas. He was the football team’s linebacker MVP and also ran track and field. He played football with his twin brother Hunter Metcalf throughout his career.
Outside of school, he worked at Foot Locker and HEB for two years, balancing work, education and sports commitments. Prior to the events of 2025, he had no criminal record.
Incident
On April 2, 2025, Anthony and Metcalf, a student at Memorial High School, were involved in a violent altercation at the District 11 High School track at Kuykendall Stadium in Frisco, Texas.
Witnesses, including Austin’s twin brother Hunter Metcalf, claimed that Metcalf challenged Anthony about his presence in the seating area and asked him to leave. Anthony allegedly stabbed Metcalf in the heart during the ensuing argument. Metcalf died despite attempts by police and firefighters to save his life.
On April 14, 2025, Judge Angela Tucker reduced Anthony’s bail from $1 million to $250,000, citing his clean criminal record and academic and athletic achievements. Anthony was released on bail the same day.
Under the terms of his release, an adult had to watch Anthony at all times, and he was prohibited from accessing social media or contacting Metcalf’s family. He also had to call the judge’s bailiff every Friday morning.
On June 24, 2025, Collin County District Attorney Greg Willis announced that a grand jury had indicted Anthony for first degree murder. Anthony was prosecuted as an adult, which meant he could face 5 to 99 years in prison or life in prison if convicted.
Trial and conviction
Anthony’s trial began Monday, June 1, at the Collin County Courthouse in McKinney, Texas. It was supposed to take two weeks, but after a short deliberation on Tuesday, June 9, the jury found Anthony guilty of first degree murder. Later that day, he was sentenced to 35 years in prison.
According to Texas Metro News, Presiding District Judge John Roach Jr. issued a gag order in July 2025, barring anyone involved in the prosecution or defense from discussing the case in public. This includes lawyers, witnesses, law enforcement officers and court personnel.
On Saturday, June 6, the Collin County Chief Medical Examiner released information on Metcalf’s injuries. Elizabeth Ventura testified that Metcalf was stabbed through the heart, and the wound — two and a half inches long — was not survivable.
Jurors also viewed four autopsy images, with some reportedly covering their mouths and feeling tears. The prosecution officially ended the evidentiary proceedings after calling 21 witnesses.
The defense ended on Monday, June 8, and the jury was impaneled the following day. They were also allowed to investigate a lesser charge of manslaughter.
Metcalf’s parents and twin Hunter were in court when the decision was read. According to CBS News Texas, Anthony reportedly burst into tears after the announcement.
