Karmelo Anthony Sentenced to 35 Years for Texas Track‑Meet Murder

A Collin County jury found 19‑year‑old Karmelo Anthony guilty of first‑degree murder for the April 2025 stabbing death of 17‑year‑old Austin Metcalf at a high‑school track meet in Frisco, Texas. On June 12, 2026, the judge sentenced Anthony to 35 years in prison. Judge John Roach barred cameras and livestreaming from the courtroom, saying the decision was “an easy decision” to protect a fair trial and prevent outside pressure. The verdict, reached in under three hours, rejected the defense’s self‑defense claim and sparked public protests outside the McKinney courthouse, with observers noting the case’s relevance to broader debates over racial bias in self‑defense claims.

The trial highlighted tensions between media access, courtroom fairness, and community concerns about justice in high‑profile murder cases.