The murder trial against Texas teen Karmelo Anthony is underway in Collin County.
Anthony, 18, is accused of fatally stabbing 17-year-old Austin Metcalf last year at Frisco’s David Kuykendall Stadium on April 2, 2025.
Anthony, a Centennial High School student, is accused of stabbing Metcalf, a Memorial High School student, over a seating dispute. Metcalf reportedly confronted Anthony about sitting under a tent designated for Metcalf’s team.
During opening statements Thursday morning, the prosecution argued that several Memorial students told Anthony to leave, calling the tent their locker room.
Anthony then taunted and provoked Metcalf and dared him to touch him, according to First Assistant District Attorney Bill Wirskye. Once Metcalf touched him, Anthony grabbed a hidden knife.
Wirskye argued that the defendant plunged “a knife into his [Metcalf’s] heart and ran away,” in what Wirskye described as a “an unjustified, provoked murder.”
“You cannot provoke someone and produce a knife and take a life,” Wirskye said.
Following the incident, Anthony allegedly fled from the tent and attempted to blend in with the crowd before police located him.
“There’s been a lot of noise around this case,” Defense Attorney Mike Howard said during opening statements, according to FOX 4 “A lot of completely false information.”
Howard described Anthony as an “A” student who held down two jobs while graduating high school.
“He [Anthony] is a brother, the oldest of four. He is a friend, boyfriend, a student who graduated with a 3.7 GPA while holding two jobs, playing football, track…”
The defense argued that Anthony, who had been “looking for a place to get out of the rain,” spotted someone he knew under the Memorial tent and went to the tent to say hello. Everything appeared OK until Anthony was confronted by the Metcalf and his twin brother.
Howard stated that Metcalf’s brother stood in front Anthony, making Anthony fear that the group was “turning on him.”
“He reacts in a split second of fear and chaos,” Howard said.
Howard stated that while Anthony was 5 feet, 8 inches tall and weighed around 130 pounds, Metcalf stood 6 feet, 1 inch tall and weighed about 213 pounds.
Following the incident, Anthony admitted that he stabbed Metcalf but said he felt like his life had been in danger after Metcalf made physical contact.
Since Anthony was 17 at the time, he’s been charged as an adult under Texas law.
Following opening statements, the prosecution called Mark Porter, a forensic video analyst with the Tarrant County District Attorney’s office, to the stand, to present the stadium’s security footage from the day in question.
The trial of Anthony, accused of killing Austin Metcalf, is expected to last two weeks. He faces up to life in prison if convicted. He has pleaded not guilty. https://t.co/pnipXpOpEM
— KCENNews (@6NewsCTX) June 4, 2026
Earlier this week, the Next Generation Action Network criticized the lack of Black representation on the jury, noting that prosecutors used their final strikes to remove the remaining qualified Black candidates.
“The prosecution used its final strikes to remove the remaining qualified Black jurors from the jury pool, raising serious concerns about fairness and equal justice,” the group said. “We respect the court, but we will not remain silent.”
Wirskye told the court Thursday that the “case has nothing to do with race” or “self-defense.”
Meanwhile, Judge John Roach Jr. has implemented tight restrictions on courtroom access and coverage, banning cameras, audio, and livestreams inside the courtroom, WFAA reports.
The judge allowed for 27 public seats, despite hundreds lining up to attend the trial. The defense and prosecution team were allowed 15 seats each.
The trial is expected to last two weeks. If convicted, Anthony faces five to 99 years or life in prison.
Check back for updates.
[Featured images: Metcalf/Memorial High School; Anthony/Frisco PD]
