A Collin County jury on Tuesday sentenced Karmelo Anthony to 35 years in prison for the fatal stabbing of 17-year-old Austin Metcalf at a Frisco ISD track meet in 2025, bringing the closely watched case to a close.
Jurors deliberated for about two and a half hours before agreeing on the sentence. Anthony, now 19, faced a possible punishment range of five to 99 years or life in prison after being convicted of murder earlier the same day.
Sentencing Phase
Both the prosecution and defense waived opening statements during the sentencing phase. Prosecutors did not call any witnesses. The defense presented a single witness: Anthony’s mother, Kayla Hayes.
“He’s my oldest, he’s my firstborn,” Hayes told the court. “He will always be my baby. I love him very much.”
When asked whether her son felt remorse, Hayes responded that he was very sorry for what he had done.
Prosecutors Focus on Victim
In closing arguments, prosecutors urged jurors to focus on the life that was lost rather than the future facing the defendant.
“Austin Metcalf was a son. Austin Metcalf was a brother,” the prosecutor told the jury, asking them to consider the victim’s age and the milestones he would never reach.
To emphasize that point, the state displayed an image from the 2025 track meet showing coaches gathered in prayer around Metcalf as first responders worked to save him. Members of Metcalf’s family, including his brother Hunter, were visibly emotional in the courtroom.
Defense Argues Sudden Passion
The defense asked jurors to consider whether the stabbing occurred under “sudden passion,” arguing Anthony acted in a moment of fear without time for calm reflection.
Defense attorneys said video evidence supported their claim that the confrontation escalated quickly and that Anthony reacted emotionally. They emphasized that arguing sudden passion was not an attempt to blame the victim, but rather to explain the defendant’s mental state at the time.
Under Texas law, a finding of sudden passion would have reduced the conviction to a second-degree felony, carrying a sentence of two to 20 years. Jurors ultimately rejected that argument.
Background of the Case
Anthony was convicted of murder in the April 2, 2025, stabbing of Metcalf at Kuykendall Stadium during a Frisco ISD track meet. Prosecutors said the two teens, who attended different schools and did not know each other previously, got into a confrontation near team tents before Anthony stabbed Metcalf once in the chest.
Metcalf was taken to a hospital, where he later died from his injuries.
The case drew national attention and sparked broader discussions about self-defense claims, safety at school sporting events, and youth violence. During the trial, jurors heard testimony from eyewitnesses, law enforcement officers, medical experts, and character witnesses.
Anthony was taken into custody shortly after the incident and remained jailed throughout the trial. Judge John Roach instructed jurors that they could also consider manslaughter, but they returned a murder verdict.
With the sentence now set, Anthony will be transferred to the Texas Department of Criminal Justice to begin serving his term.
FAQs
Who was sentenced in the case?
Karmelo Anthony, now 19 years old.
What sentence did the jury decide?
Anthony was sentenced to 35 years in prison.
Who was the victim?
Austin Metcalf, a 17-year-old student.
Where did the killing occur?
At a Frisco ISD track meet in 2025.
Did the jury consider sudden passion?
Yes, but jurors rejected that argument.
