MCKINNEY, Texas — The murder trial of Karmelo Anthony took a dramatic and emotional turn on its second day as jurors heard the defendant’s own words from bodycam footage and saw the weapon used in the fatal stabbing of Austin Metcalf.
On April 2, 2025, during a regional track and field meet in Frisco, 19-year-old Karmelo Anthony allegedly stabbed 17-year-old Austin Metcalf once in the chest during a dispute under a team tent. Metcalf died at the scene despite frantic life-saving efforts by first responders.
In court on Wednesday, prosecutors played bodycam video showing Anthony telling officers shortly after the incident, “I did it.” The statement, delivered calmly at first before Anthony became emotional, is now central to the prosecution’s case.
Jurors were also shown the 5-inch switchblade for the first time. Prosecutors emphasized that Anthony brought a deadly weapon to a school-sanctioned athletic event, arguing the act was intentional. First responders took the stand, describing their desperate attempts to save Metcalf, who had no pulse when they arrived.
Anthony has pleaded not guilty, claiming he acted in self-defense after feeling threatened. His attorneys argue the stabbing was a tragic, impulsive reaction in a moment of fear. However, the prosecution contends the evidence — including the type of knife, the single fatal wound, and Anthony’s immediate admission — tells a different story.
The courtroom was heavy with emotion as Metcalf’s family members wiped away tears during testimony. Outside the Collin County Courthouse, supporters on both sides continued to gather, reflecting the deep divide this case has created in the community.
The trial is expected to last several weeks, with witnesses including students who were present at the meet and forensic experts. Legal analysts say the verdict may hinge on whether the jury believes Anthony’s claim of self-defense or agrees with prosecutors that the stabbing was an unjustified act of violence.
For the Metcalf family, the proceedings represent their search for justice for a beloved son and student-athlete whose life was cut short. For Anthony’s family, it is a fight to prove their son acted to protect himself in a frightening situation.
As more evidence is presented, the Karmelo Anthony trial continues to highlight difficult questions about youth conflict, self-defense laws, and how society assigns blame when teenage disagreements turn deadly.
