An all-white Texas jury has sentenced 18-year-old Karmelo Anthony to 35 years in prison for the fatal stabbing of fellow teenager Austin Metcalf during a high school track meet in Frisco in 2025.
The sentence was handed down after jurors found Anthony guilty of murder in the death of 17-year-old Metcalf, rejecting defense arguments that the killing occurred in a moment of “sudden passion,” a finding that could have significantly reduced the potential prison term.
Scene outside the Collin County Courthouse after guilty verdict in Karmelo Anthony murder trial pic.twitter.com/UcRK64OEXu
— J.D. Miles (@jdmiles11) June 9, 2026
The case stemmed from a confrontation between the two teenagers at a school track event, where prosecutors argued that Anthony intentionally used a knife during an argument that escalated into deadly violence.
During the punishment phase of the trial, Anthony’s mother, Kala Hayes, pleaded with jurors for leniency, describing her son as her firstborn child and telling the court that he was deeply remorseful for his actions.
“He’s my oldest, he’s my first born. He will always be my baby,” she said through tears. “He’s very sorry for what he did.”
Despite the emotional testimony, the jury sentenced Anthony to 35 years behind bars after deliberating for less than three hours.
Witnesses inside the courtroom said Anthony and several members of his family broke down in tears as the sentence was announced. He was immediately taken into custody and escorted from the courtroom.
The verdict also brought emotional scenes from the Metcalf family. Austin’s twin brother, Hunter Metcalf, was present in court and was reportedly visibly emotional as the sentence was delivered.
Throughout the trial, Anthony’s defense team argued that he acted in self-defense during the confrontation. Attorney Mike Howard claimed that Anthony had a legal right to protect himself and argued that Metcalf had no authority to physically remove him from the area where the dispute began.
Howard maintained that Anthony feared for his safety and acted during a rapidly escalating encounter.
However, jurors ultimately rejected the self-defense claim and determined that Anthony’s actions met the legal standard for a murder conviction under Texas law.
The case attracted national attention due to the ages of those involved, the circumstances surrounding the fatal altercation, and the emotional impact on both families.
With the sentencing now complete, Anthony faces decades in prison, while the Metcalf family continues to mourn the loss of a teenager whose life was cut short during what began as an ordinary school sporting event.
The conviction brings one of Texas’ most closely watched youth violence cases to a close, though the tragedy continues to resonate throughout the local community and beyond.
Prayers To The Karmelo Anthony And Austin Metcalf Family , They Both Lost There Kids One To The System And The Other To Death🥹🙏🏾
— ItssCwayyyy (@Itsscwayyyy) June 9, 2026
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