Jury Reaches Verdict In Karmelo Anthony Murder Trial

A Collin County, Texas, jury on Tuesday found Karmelo Anthony, 19, guilty of murdering 17-year-old high school athlete Austin Metcalf.

Anthony, who was 17 years old at the time of the murder, was tried as an adult and is facing five years to life in prison for the first-degree murder conviction. 

CBS reporter J.D. Miles reported just before the verdict that more than two dozen deputies were outside the courtroom and a crowd outside the courthouse was gathering and chanting “Free Karmelo.”

Tense scene in and around Collin County Courthouse. More than 2 dozen deputies outside the courtroom alone. Outside a crowd is gathering with chants of “Free Karmelo” pic.twitter.com/Jy0e6jRNhl

— J.D. Miles (@jdmiles11) June 9, 2026

Anthony, who is black, fatally stabbed Metcalf, who was white, at a track event in April 2025 in Frisco, Texas. The case quickly garnered national attention, both due to a narrative peddled by the Anthony family and the glaring lack of coverage from the legacy media, which routinely highlights and escalates white-on-black incidents.

GoFundMe: Austin Metcalf Family

The high-profile trial started on June 1 with jury selection and wrapped in a matter of nine days. Video footage and witness testimony — even from defense witnesses — generally indicted that Anthony provoked the situation with Metcalf and deadly force was not needed, contradicting the self-defense argument from Anthony’s team.

Notably, Anthony did not take the stand during the trial.

The race narrative advanced by the Anthony family was also quickly dispelled during witness testimony. For example, a number of teen witnesses called to the stand by the state were black; they all said Anthony was in the wrong and spoke highly of Metcalf as a person and friend.

In an emotional moment, a male witness who knew both Anthony and the slain teen broke down crying about the murder, saying of Austin, “That was my brother, that was my brother that got stabbed.” Investigative journalist Sarah Fields, who was in the courtroom, said the teen was asked directly if this case was about race. He responded, “No, Austin was a leader and he protected us.”

Video evidence also showed that Anthony was never surrounded by a mob, but was confronted by Metcalf alone. Metcalf explicitly told Anthony he wasn’t going to fight him, according to witness testimony.

Supporters of Anthony have been outside the courthouse since the trial started. They have made racial remarks and denigrated Metcalf. In seeming anticipation of any protest over the verdict, authorities secured the area early Tuesday morning.

???? NOW: It’s 2:15am here outside the Collin County, TX courthouse where Karmelo Anthony’s trial is being held

And sheriff’s deputies have this placed LOCKED DOWN

I spoke with a couple deputies, and they’ve assured me they are READY to combat any sort of rioting that follows the… pic.twitter.com/GTwoWnWcdN

— Nick Sortor (@nicksortor) June 9, 2026

Related: Family Of Karmelo Anthony Hosted The Most Disgusting Press Conference I’ve Ever Seen