A Texas jury sentenced Karmelo Anthony to 35 years in prison on Tuesday after finding him guilty of murdering fellow track competitor Austin Metcalf at a meet last year.
The two teenagers, who attended different high schools, were at a track meet in April 2025 when Anthony stepped into Metcalf’s tent and an argument and physical confrontation ensued between Anthony, Metcalf and Metcalf’s twin brother, Hunter.
Anthony pulled a knife out of his backpack and stabbed Austin once in the chest.
Anthony surrendered himself to police in hysterics and admitted to the crime, but questioned if his actions constituted self-defense.
The jury found Anthony guilty of murder after a multi-day trial that recorded testimony from fellow students, bystanders and law enforcement agents. Jurors ultimately rejected Anthony’s “sudden passion” claim, which would have reduced his sentence.
The case has drawn national attention for more than a year, mostly due to the two teenagers’ races. Supporters of Anthony, who is black, alleged that the trial was biased, citing the fact that there were no black jurors. Prosecutors and the defense attorneys removed some jurors before the trial who were thought to have previously formed opinions about the trial.
Metcalf’s father, Jeff, and the district attorney denied that the proceedings had anything to do with race. The arrest report does not mention race as a contributing factor.
Jeff Metcalf also previously denounced a protest that erupted a couple weeks after the stabbing, held by the group “Protect White Americans.” The group demanded that Anthony be returned to police custody before the trial. Metcalf accused the protesters, led by Capitol riot participant Jake Lang, as “race baiters.”
Protesters on both sides clashed outside of the courthouse during the proceedings. Frisco, one of the fastest growing cities in Texas, has experienced a large amount of racial and ethnic change over the last decades, according to U.S. census records.