Texas teen sentenced to 35 years for murder of rival track athlete

Karmelo Anthony, now 19, was convicted of murder and sentenced to 35 years in prison for stabbing 17‑year‑old Austin Metcalf during a high‑school track meet in McKinney, Texas. The jury rejected Anthony's self‑defense claim after less than three hours of deliberation.

The confrontation occurred in April 2025 when Anthony refused to leave a tent belonging to Metcalf's team in the bleachers of Memorial High School. Witnesses said Metcalf pushed Anthony, who then drew a knife and stabbed Metcalf in the chest. Both teens, who did not know each other, were from Frisco, a fast‑growing Dallas suburb.

Prosecutor Bill Wirskye sought a lengthy term, emphasizing community accountability, while defense attorney Mike Howard argued Texas law does not require waiting until one is hit to act in self‑defense. The trial attracted extensive media attention and public spectators, with heavy security at the Collin County courthouse.

Both families described the boys as good students with college plans, and lawyers on both sides denied that race was a factor, despite the case drawing national social‑media discussion about racial dynamics.