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Published 10:28 20 Jun 2026 GMT
Gruesome photos have been made public following the conclusion of Karmelo Anthony's murder trial.
The 19-year-old was sentenced to 35 years in prison following the fatal stabbing of high school student Austin Metcalf, 17.
A Texas judge spoke on the teenager's character, claiming that he now understands the severity of his actions.
Anthony broke down in tears when his sentence was read out in a Texas courtroom, in a publicized case which gained traction due to many focusing on the race aspect of the incident.
Metcalf's parents also delivered emotional statements about their late son, after he was stabbed by Anthony following an altercation at a high school athletics event, where the guilty party stabbed the late teen with a pocket knife.
Now, chilling photos taken during the criminal investigation have been published by authorities.
Collin County court have now released photos of the wound which teenager Metcalf suffered after being stabbed by a $13 knife from Walmart.
A deep gash can be seen in the victim's chest, as a forensic ruler was also placed next to the wound.
The folding Ozark Trail multitool knife identified by prosecutors as the murder weapon was also made public.
More gruesome images were also released, including a blood-soaked jacket, which featured dark staining and what looked to be punctures in the fabric.
This article of clothing belonged to Joshua Rebmann, a Liberty High School football coach who rushed over to help Metcalf, attempting to use the jacket to stop the bleeding.
Anthony had used the 3.5-inch serrated blade to stab the teenager after his twin brother confronted him for sitting in their team's tent at an event held at Memorial High School in Frisco in April 2025.
Metcalf's heart was pierced, and the teen was unconscious when authorities arrived on the scene.
Trial testimony revealed that the incident took place during a rain delay, but after things escalated, Anthony's single stab at Metcalf caused the teen to collapse and, tragically, die.
Some photos show Anthony after he was arrested, with one of these snaps showing the handcuffed individual in the back of a cop car, while his wrists are restrained behind his back.
Blood can be seen on his finger.
A close-up photo also reveals that there was a small blood spot found on the sleeve area of the grey sweatshirt collected by authorities as evidence.
Officers said they found blood on Anthony after the attack, seizing clothes and other items for the investigation.
These exhibits were made public just days after a Collin County jury rejected Anthony’s claim that he acted in self-defence.
Anthony's legal team have since filed notice that they want to appeal the conviction.
Published 16:29 04 Jun 2026 GMT
The murder trial of Karmelo Anthony has begun in Texas, with prosecutors revealing the final words spoken by 17-year-old Austin Metcalf after he was stabbed during a high school track meet.
Anthony, now 19, is charged with first-degree murder over the fatal stabbing at Kuykendall Stadium in Frisco on April 2 last year. He has pleaded not guilty and claims he acted in self-defense following a dispute over seating at the event.
Per The Daily Mail, during opening statements on Thursday, Collin County First Assistant District Attorney Bill Wirskye told jurors that Metcalf realized he had been stabbed before lifting his shirt and saying: "I've been stabbed."
Prosecutors said the teenager then tumbled down several rows of bleachers as his twin brother, Hunter, rushed to help him.
Wirskye told the court that Anthony used a folding knife during the confrontation and later discarded the weapon before leaving the scene.
According to prosecutors, Anthony attempted to blend into groups of students fleeing the stadium after the incident.
"If you're scared and running away in self-defense, why toss the knife?" the prosecutor said.
"That knife wasn't used to protect him from harm. That knife was used to harm another. Find this man guilty of first-degree murder," he continued, pointing at Anthony.
The prosecution also argued that race should not be considered when evaluating the evidence.
"This case has nothing to do with race," Collin County First Assistant District Attorney Bill Wirskye said.
Anthony had his knife ready to stab Austin Metcalf in a "surprise attack," the prosecutor claimed.
"That's why we are here, no other reason," Wirskye said. "This killing, this murder is just senseless."
Anthony's attorney Mike Howard presented a different version of events, arguing that his client acted after being confronted by Metcalf and his brother.
"'What's important to know is Melo is 5'8" and 140 pounds. Hunter and Austin Metcalf are 6'1' about 80 pounds heavier than Melo," defense attorney Mike Howard said, referring to Anthony by his nickname.
"What you will hear is that Melo remained seated, even when Austin and Hunter stood up," Howard continued.
"It is uncontroverted that Austin makes the first physical contact. Austin grabs, punches, pushes. In that split second, Melo has a decision to make, how and when to act."
Howard also described Anthony as a strong student with a 3.7 GPA who played multiple sports and held two jobs, while telling jurors there had been "a lot of noise" and "a lot of completely false information" surrounding the case.
The trial is expected to last around two weeks, with prosecutors planning to present surveillance footage that allegedly captured the incident.
"The video will tell the story," Wirskye said. "The facts of this case are as simple as this act was senseless."
More than 35 witnesses are expected to testify, including student athletes, coaches and Austin Metcalf's twin brother Hunter, who was with him in his final moments.
If convicted of first-degree murder, Anthony faces a sentence ranging from five years to 99 years in prison.
Published 09:21 15 Jun 2026 GMT
The Texas judge who sentenced Karmelo Anthony at the conclusion of his murder trial, reflected on the severity of the sentence and what he thought of the teenager's character.
Anthony, 19, was sentenced to 35 years behind bars following the fatal stabbing of high school student Austin Metcalf, 17.
The guilty party broke down in tears after the sentence was read out in a Texas courtroom, as the victim's parents delivered emotional statements about their late son.
Anthony stabbed Metcalf following an altercation at a high school athletics event, where the guilty party stabbed the late teen with a pocket knife.
Metcalf's mother said in court: "You may have just been given a sentence of 35 years behind bars, but you can consider yourself lucky because I've been sentenced to a lifetime without my son."
Now, the judge from his court case has spoken publicly about the situation.
The Texas judge said that the jury made the right decision, explaining why he thought this to be the case.
Judge John Roach defended the outcome, telling WFAA: “Yes they did because they were picked based upon the law, they listened to the facts, it happened in this courtroom, and they got a verdict,” when asked if the jurors did the right thing.
The judge also opened up about what he noticed about Anthony's character, saying in a post-trial interview: “He seems like a nice young man who committed a crime and he understands today more than any day before the consequences of committing a crime like he did.”
Anthony's murder case received increased attention in the media, as tensions have grown over race, as his lawyers claimed that Metcalf, a white teenager, was a bully who targeted their client.
A fundraiser successfully raised over $635,000 for the murderer's family as a result.
The jury didn't agree with Anthony's claims of self-defence, while also refusing to accept a “sudden passion” argument that would’ve downgraded his punishment from first-degree to second-degree murder.
This would likely have meant that his punishment would be limited to a maximum of 20 years in prison.
Roach said that despite the public's interest in the case, he was satisfied with the outcome and ignored criticisms from those online.
He stated: “As long as I follow the law, I sleep well at night, I know I made people mad but I’m not here to make them happy either.”
Anthony has recently filed a notice to appeal his conviction.
Speaking directly to Anthony, she said, as per CBS News: "Now my conversations with him are one-sided, sitting at his grave...
"I have to accept that instead of walking beside me, he's walking above me."
She went on: “Going into an empty room, empty bed, and once again remembering Austin is dead.”
Meghan said that her son was a "morning kid" and a "hugger," and said the teen "always had a way of bringing people together. He was a peacemaker."
"My son was murdered. He didn't just die," she said about the events leading to his death, admitting that the biggest challenge has been dealing with the loss daily.
Speaking directly to Anthony, Meghan said as per WFAA: "You should feel lucky you got 35 because I’ve been given a life sentence," Meghan added of the sorrow she feels over Metcalf's death.
The statement was made after the jury delivered the sentence, with Metcalf's twin brother and father also making victim impact statements.
According to Texas law, Anthony could become eligible for parole after serving half of his sentence.
Published 10:45 25 Jun 2025 GMT
The dad of a teen who was stabbed to death at a track meet has spoken out as the alleged killer, Karmelo Anthony, is charged with murder.
As widely reported, Austin Metcalf, 17, a junior at Frisco Memorial High School and standout linebacker with a 4.0 GPA, was allegedly stabbed in the chest by Karmelo Anthony, a senior from nearby Frisco Centennial High School, on April 2.
The violence reportedly erupted during a rain delay at the event, when Anthony took shelter under a pop-up tent belonging to Metcalf's team. According to Metcalf's twin brother, Hunter, that’s when tensions ignited.
“We asked him to move. He started getting aggressive and talking reckless,” Hunter told reporters.
When his brother stepped in, things turned deadly. “He put his hands on me,” Anthony later admitted to police, according to an arrest affidavit.
“I was protecting myself.” But what came next stunned everyone: “I’m not alleged, I did it,” the suspect reportedly confessed.
Hunter tried to save his brother, but the stab wound to the heart was too severe. His twin was rushed to a hospital and pronounced dead shortly after.
“He was holding the wound. He was trying to save his brother,” their mother, Meghan Metcalf, recalled. “Just doesn’t make any sense...just because the kid was mad, my son is not here anymore, and I don’t understand it.”
Anthony, 18, has been formally indicted for the murder of Metcalf. The Collin County grand jury handed down the indictment this week, advancing a case that has deeply shaken the local community.
He was arrested on the scene and charged with first-degree murder. Though he was released on reduced bond on April 14 and remains under house arrest, the charge carries a potential sentence of five to 99 years or life in prison.
In Texas, 17-year-olds are prosecuted as adults, though the death penalty is off the table due to Anthony’s age at the time of the stabbing. Law enforcement sources told TMZ that even if prosecutors had sought it, Anthony was too young to face capital punishment.
“If it would have happened six weeks later, he would have been 18. Then it's a different ball game,” said Jeff, Metcalf's father. “We have to play the cards we are dealt.”
While the distraught father said he would have "100 percent" supported the death penalty if Anthony had been 18, he added: “Doesn't matter what I think. Nothing will bring my son back.”
Despite that, he said he's “pleased” the case is moving forward. “With the first-degree murder indictment, it now goes into the court system. I fully believe that justice will be served for Austin Metcalf. I look forward to the forthcoming trial. But it will never bring my son back,” he said, per CBS News.
Collin County District Attorney Greg Willis acknowledged the emotional weight of the case in a public statement: “We know this case has struck a deep nerve - here in Collin County and beyond. That’s understandable. When something like this happens at a school event, it shakes people to the core.
"The justice system works best when it moves with steadiness and with principle. That’s what we’re committed to. And that’s exactly what this case deserves," he added.
Anthony’s attorney, Mike Howard, released a video statement asserting his client acted in self-defense and is confident in the judicial process.
“Karmelo and his family are confident in the justice system and the people of Collin County to be fair and impartial. Of course, Karmelo looks forward to his day in court,” Howard said.
“Because it’s only in a trial that the full story can be heard, and that impartial justice can be done. We expect that when the full story is heard, the prosecution will not be able to rule out the reasonable doubt that Karmelo Anthony may have acted in self-defense.”
Howard added that he fully expects “the jury will reach the right conclusion and justice will be done".
The next stage in the legal process will be the assignment of a trial judge, who will set a first court appearance date.
Published 10:07 11 Jun 2026 GMT
Karmelo Anthony has filed an appeal against his murder conviction less than a day after being sentenced to 35 years in prison for the fatal stabbing of Texas teenager Austin Metcalf.
Court records obtained by TMZ show that Anthony's legal team submitted a notice of appeal shortly after a jury delivered its verdict. The move marks the next phase in a case that has drawn national attention since the deadly confrontation at a high school track and field event in Frisco, Texas, on April 2, 2025.
Metcalf, 17, died after suffering a single stab wound to the chest during an altercation with Anthony under a tent at Kuykendall Stadium. The Frisco Memorial High School junior died in the arms of his twin brother. Anthony, who was 17 at the time of the incident, maintained that he acted in self-defense.
Anthony's attorney, Mike Howard, confirmed that the defense had formally notified the court of its intention to challenge the conviction.
“After the conclusion of the trial yesterday, we gave the court our official notice that Karmelo Anthony is filing an appeal,” Howard told TMZ.
“We believe there are several important issues for the appellate courts to consider.
“An appeal is the next part of the legal process and a right afforded every American.”
The appeal announcement came after Dominique Alexander of the Next Generation Action Network revealed that his organization had provided the first $10,000 toward securing appellate representation.
Speaking to reporters after sentencing, Alexander said: “I respected this process. I allowed and called for peace in this process.
“But Black America should be very upset about what went on today.
“I’m only an advocacy leader. I’m not an attorney. I can only help families navigate these processes when they find themselves in these types of situations.
“I can only allow lawyers to be what they are – lawyers. I can’t instruct them, I can’t stop them from doing anything. I have to respect the process just like anybody else.
“But what we saw today was flawed, unjust, and I can ask that the community continue to pray for the Anthony family.”
Following Anthony's transfer to the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, family members and supporters publicly voiced their support.
His girlfriend, Valeria Perez, shared an emotional TikTok post that included photos from their relationship and the message: “Hold your head high, my sweet boy.”
“You’re not alone we’re fighting for you. I love you more than words,” Perez added.
Anthony's mother, Kala Hayes, also addressed the verdict on social media, writing: “But GOD……. The fight is not over. “It has just BEGUN.”
His uncle, Andre Anthony, posted: “What ever [sic] it takes … #FREEMELO.”
Meanwhile, TMZ reported that Metcalf's family was "very happy" with both the guilty verdict and Anthony's sentence.
Outside the Collin County Courthouse, tensions remained high after the sentencing. Anthony's grandmother, Toni Hayes, was captured on video shouting, “Racist! Bias!” from a vehicle as protesters gathered nearby.
As the appeal process begins, Anthony's family is also set to receive more than $635,000 from an online fundraiser launched following his arrest.
The U.S. Sun reported that the campaign, created by Kala Hayes, surpassed $635,000 before it was closed by crowdfunding platform GiveSendGo after Anthony's conviction.
In a statement to the outlet, GiveSendGo said: “This campaign was created to support pre-trial needs, and those funds were disbursed over the past year for lawful purposes including legal defense and family relocation.
“With that stated purpose now complete, the campaign has been closed the funds will be paid out.
“Our policy is that a campaign’s stated purpose stays accurate so givers always know what they are supporting.
“Our prayer is for Austin Metcalf’s family, for all those affected, and for justice, mercy, and peace in our community.”
GiveSendGo founder Jacob Well separately confirmed that the family would receive the money in full.
According to organizers, the funds were intended to help cover legal expenses, relocation costs, basic living expenses, and security measures. Before the campaign was shut down, supporters continued contributing toward a fundraising goal of $1.39 million.
Published 15:50 04 Jun 2026 GMT
An update has been provided in the murder case of Austin Metcalf, a teenager who was stabbed and killed at a high school athletic event.
The then-17-year-old tragically died in his twin brother's arms during the track meet on April 2, 2025, in Frisco, Texas.
Police initially described the incident as an "altercation between two students" at the David Kuykendall Stadium.
Austin was a 4.0 GPA student, and would sadly be pronounced dead at the hospital soon after being wounded.
In the aftermath, it was reported by CNN that Karmelo Anthony, 17, had been arrested in connection to the stabbing, and he was subsequently charged with murder.
The court case officially began on Thursday (June 4).
The Metcalfs' legal team will argue that the stabbing of Austin was not an act of self-defence, despite Anthony's claims.
Opening statements in the long-awaited trial began on Thursday, after a group of 500 prospective jurors was trimmed down to 12 and six alternates.
Anthony, now 19, was openly criticized on social media after being charged, with the racial background of the suspect and the victim playing a part.
A confrontation took place when witnesses claimed Austin told Anthony to move from his team's tent at the event, which is when tensions flared up.
Austin's twin brother, Hunter, recalled: “We asked him to move. He started getting aggressive and talking reckless.”
Anthony allegedly warned the teen: “Touch me and see what happens,” as he reached into his backpack.
An arrest affidavit revealed that Anthony admitted that "he put his hands on me," adding: “I was protecting myself.”
However, the suspect went as far as reportedly claiming: “I’m not alleged, I did it.”
“Just doesn’t make any sense... just because the kid was mad, my son is not here anymore, and I don’t understand it,” their mother, Meghan Metcalf, said.
It is said that Metcalf grabbed Anthony, who pulled out a pocket knife and stabbed Metcalf in the chest once, and Metcalf would die at the scene in his brother's arms.
Speaking to The US Sun, Eric Faddis, a Colorado-based trial attorney who is not involved in the case, said that eyewitnesses will be key in the case's conclusion.
He explained: “I think it’s going to be critical what other people who were around this incident heard and what they saw because those witnesses are probably disinterested,
“They don’t have an interest in this. They’re not the victim. They’re not the defendant. They are just, hopefully neutral, impartial witnesses.
“So did they hear any threats? What did they see in terms of the body positioning and in terms of physical contact, those kinds of things."
He said that the person who was seen as the "primary aggressor" would be important, adding: “Those are things that are hard to reconstruct a year after the fact. You do so via witnesses. And I think that witness testimony is going to be critical here.”
Following Anthony's alleged claim that he stabbed Metcalf, Faddis believes that this may hurt him in court.
“I think what it does is it forecloses on the possibility of other potential defenses,” he highlighted.
The attorney added: “When you have sort of a chaotic circumstance and something physical happens, you got to prove that it’s the defendant who did it here.
“The defendant gave [prosecutors] that proof that he confessed that he was the one engaged in this activity.
“But on the flip side, perhaps the jury’s going to see that and say, hey, Karmelo Anthony was being straight with police from the beginning.
“He admitted that it was him, and he asserted multiple times that he was doing this to protect himself.”
Anthony has been charged with first-degree murder, and investigators say that the pair did not know each other.
Anthony's defense attorney claimed that his client was defending himself and faced a threat when he was confronted, as they will heavily lean on Texas' self-defence laws.
This removes the duty to retreat if someone reasonably believes that they face a threat of bodily harm.
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