Prosecutors rested their case Saturday in the murder trial of Karmelo Anthony, the 19-year-old accused of fatally stabbing 17-year-old Austin Metcalf during a rain delay at a Frisco high school track meet last April.
The dramatic confrontation unfolded at David Kuykendall Stadium on April 2, 2025, as students from Frisco Memorial and Centennial high schools sought shelter from the weather under team tents. Multiple student witnesses testified that Anthony, then 17 and from Centennial, entered the Memorial tent uninvited, refused repeated requests to leave, and provoked an argument before pulling a knife from his backpack and stabbing Metcalf in the chest.
Collin County prosecutors called 21 witnesses over several days of testimony, including fellow students, first responders, and the medical examiner. Dr. Elizabeth Ventura testified that the 3.5-inch folding knife inflicted a 2-inch wound that pierced Metcalf’s heart, describing it as unsurvivable. Anthony admitted to the stabbing in body camera footage played in court, telling officers, “I’m not alleged, I did it,” while claiming self-defense.
Student accounts varied on some details — such as the exact words exchanged and the level of physical contact — but most described Anthony as the aggressor who taunted the group and warned, “Touch me and see what happens,” before the fatal strike. Defense attorneys highlighted inconsistencies in prior statements and physical differences between the teens, arguing Anthony acted out of fear while seated and surrounded.
The defense began presenting its case Saturday afternoon, calling witnesses including a track coach and students who offered alternative perspectives on the tent culture and initial interactions. One defense witness suggested Metcalf’s twin brother, Hunter, engaged first with Anthony. The trial, presided over by District Judge John Roach Jr. in the 296th District Court, is expected to last about two weeks. Anthony faces five to 99 years or life in prison if convicted.
The case has drawn national attention, protests outside the Collin County Courthouse, and widespread online discussion, prompting officials to warn against misinformation. A gag order limits public comments from those involved.
