McKINNEY, Texas — On Tuesday, Karmelo Anthony’s lawyer argued that Austin Metcalf was responsible for the deadly confrontation between the teenagers at a track meet, as Anthony maintained his difficult self-defense claim.
Anthony, now 19, faces charges of fatally stabbing Metcalf, 17, after Metcalf asked him to leave his school’s tent during a competition between their rival teams at a Frisco stadium on April 2, 2025.
During closing arguments at the Collin County trial, Anthony’s lawyer, Mike Howard, stated, “Austin Metcalf had no legal right to use force to eject Karmelo Anthony from that tent,” while Anthony attentively listened from the defense table.
Howard contended, “He had the right to ask him to leave, but he didn’t have any legal right to use force,” referring to Metcalf, according to a report by the Daily Mail.
Witnesses recounted that several members of Frisco Memorial High School, including Metcalf, asked Anthony, who was then a 17-year-old student at Frisco Centennial High School, to vacate their team tent approximately 15 times.
Eventually, Metcalf pushed Anthony, prompting him to retaliate by stabbing Metcalf in the chest with a semi-serrated folding knife, according to students’ testimonies.
Howard asserted that Anthony “had an absolute right to defend himself.”
Howard emphasized, “If you wait until it’s too late to defend yourself, it’s meaningless.”
As Anthony’s lawyer spoke, a friend of the Metcalf family silently expressed disbelief.
In his closing arguments, prosecutor Bill Wirskye challenged Howard’s position, stating, “You don’t get to meet a shove with a stab, especially if you provoke the shove,” according to a report by local outlet NBC DFW.
The Latest Developments in Karmelo Anthony’s Murder Trial
Earlier, jurors heard from students who were present at Kuykendall Stadium that day. Anthony reportedly warned Metcalf during their altercation, saying, “Touch me and find out,” while keeping his hand inside his backpack, implying he might have a weapon.
Some students from Memorial testified that Anthony instigated the conflict.
Wirskye urged the jurors not to interpret the defense’s portrayal of a taunting threat as a harmless warning.
“Why didn’t he just walk away?” the prosecutor questioned.
However, Howard argued that Metcalf, along with his twin, Hunter, and other Memorial teammates, were surrounding a seated Anthony, making him feel threatened.
Howard questioned, “Do you turn your back? Where you can’t defend yourself if their teammates jump in?”
Before the closing arguments began on Tuesday morning, Anthony’s family gathered outside the courtroom, forming a circle to pray and seek strength for what might be the pivotal day in his case.
Jurors commenced deliberations before noon. They are tasked with deciding whether to convict Anthony on a charge of first-degree murder.
They also have the option to convict on a lesser charge of manslaughter. Wirske reminded them that choosing the lesser charge is contingent upon an acquittal on the murder charge.
Wirskye instructed the jury to focus on Anthony’s mindset rather than his motive.
“It’s mindset, mindset,” Wirskye emphasized. “He took a knife to a track meet. He obviously felt empowered that he was going to come out on top of any encounter.”
If convicted of first-degree murder, Anthony faces a potential life sentence. A manslaughter conviction could result in a prison term ranging from two to 20 years.
