Murder suspect on trial for track meet stabbing as protests erupt outside courthouse

The murder trial of Karmelo Anthony, now 18, began in Texas this week for the fatal stabbing of Austin Metcalf, a 17-year-old student-athlete from Frisco Memorial High School. Anthony was charged with first-degree murder in the April 2, 2025, incident at Kuykendall Stadium, where prosecutors allege he attacked Metcalf during an argument after the victim asked him to leave a team tent. Metcalf died at the scene in his twin brother’s arms, according to investigators. Anthony claims self-defense and has pleaded not guilty, with his legal team arguing he feared for his safety during the confrontation. Prosecutors, however, contend the evidence supports a murder conviction. The case has drawn national attention, with Anthony’s family raising hundreds of thousands of dollars for his defense, while supporters of Metcalf’s family have called for justice. Protests erupted outside the Collin County Courthouse ahead of the trial, with some demonstrators chanting in favor of Anthony’s self-defense claim, while others demanded accountability for Metcalf’s death. Jury selection began Monday and is expected to take several days, as attorneys seek impartial jurors amid extensive media coverage. If convicted, Anthony faces a lengthy prison sentence, though he is ineligible for the death penalty due to his age at the time of the alleged offense. The trial marks a high-profile legal battle over accountability and self-defense in a case that has sparked widespread debate.