Karmelo Anthony murder conviction examined over jury composition

Karmelo Anthony was convicted of fatally stabbing 17‑year‑old Austin Metcalf during a high‑school track meet and received a 35‑year prison sentence. Several House Democrats, including Rep. Christian Menefee and Rep. Troy Carter, argued that the trial was racially biased, citing an "all‑white" jury as evidence of systemic inequity.

Fact‑check reporting contradicted the claim of an all‑white panel. Of the 18 jurors (including alternates), six were minorities; among the 12 jurors who heard the case, three were minorities and none were Black because prospective Black jurors were excluded for reasons such as employment with the school district or self‑disqualification. Anthony’s father, Andrew Anthony, asserted on television that the jury was entirely white, a statement the fact‑check found inaccurate. Lawmakers called for a review of the case and for Anthony to consider an appeal, emphasizing broader concerns about race, self‑defense claims, and fairness in the criminal‑justice system.