Texas murder trial underway with 19-year-old accused of stabbing fellow high schooler

Case draws nationwide attention amid debate over racial tensions, as defendant is Black and slain student was white

Testimony has been unfolding in the murder trial of a 19-year-old accused of fatally stabbing a fellow high schooler during a track meet in Texas more than a year ago.

The case has drawn nationwide attention amid debate over racial tensions, as defendant Karmelo Anthony is Black and slain 17-year-old Austin Metcalf was white. Prosecutors allege Anthony stabbed Metcalf during a Frisco independent school district track meet at Kuykendall Stadium on 2 April 2025.

Metcalf died while being transported to a hospital. Anthony was charged with first-degree murder and has pleaded not guilty.

A jury with no Black members heard opening statements from both sides. Collin county first assistant district attorney Bill Wirskye told jurors the case “has nothing to do with race” – arguing that Anthony had taken a knife and “buried it into the heart of another young man, causing his death – and then ran away”.

Defense attorney Mike Howard focused on the moments leading up to the stabbing, noting that Anthony is 5ft 8in and about 130lbs, while Austin, like his twin brother Hunter Metcalf, was about 6ft 1in and 215lbs.

Howard argued that Metcalf had initiated a physical confrontation with Anthony, who then “made a split-second” decision out of fear.

Jurors were also shown both unaltered and enhanced surveillance footage from the stadium. The recordings showed students gathered beneath a school tent with the logo of Metcalf’s high school, Memorial. There appeared to be pushing near the back of the tent shortly before the stabbing, according to CBS.

The footage later showed students running out of the tent, Anthony leaving the area – and police pursuing as well as detaining him near the stadium.

Several witnesses described the aftermath of the stabbing, with Memorial’s track coach Robert Starr testifying that he found Metcalf lying on the ground shortly afterward.

“I come over there … and my memory is kind of shaky, but what I do see is Austin on the ground and his face is purple,” Starr said. “And he has a hole in his chest.”

Starr said he was told then that Anthony “did it”.

Heritage high school head football coach Vincent Hooper testified that he spoke with Anthony, a student at Centennial high, shortly after the stabbing.

“He said: ‘He put his hands on me,’” Hooper told the jury. “‘I stabbed him.’”

Hooper added: “I don’t think he thought he stabbed him in the spot he stabbed him in.”

Jurors also heard from a school police officer, Eduardo Cortez, who was reportedly the first among Frisco authorities to encounter Anthony.

“I had the suspect raise his hands in the air,” Cortez testified. “I gave him instructions. I advised that I had the alleged suspect detained in handcuffs.”

According to Cortez, Anthony responded: “I’m not alleged, I did it.”

Cortez also testified that “there was a little blood on his left middle finger”.

Another Frisco police officer, Jacob Shalz, testified about recovering the alleged murder weapon, which he said was found “approximately three to four rows up above the crime scene”. Photos shown to jurors depicted a blood-stained, 5in folding knife, CBS reported.

A Memorial high track athlete who witnessed the confrontation also testified. The student said several athletes repeatedly asked Anthony to leave their team tent. He recalled Anthony refusing and Metcalf saying: “You need to leave.” Anthony then reportedly replied: “Touch me and find out.”

“Austin leans in to push him, and Karmelo stabs him,” the witness said. “Karmelo had his hands inside a backpack, and we thought it was a bluff.”

Describing the physical contact between the two boys, the witness said: “I wouldn’t say it was a light shove or a hard shove. I would say it was more of an in-between.”

According to the witness, Anthony was seated with a backpack on his lap and his hands inside it when Metcalf approached him. The student testified that Metcalf pushed Anthony with both hands on his shoulders – after which Anthony pulled a knife from the bag, pushed Metcalf and stabbed him in the chest.

If Anthony is found guilty, he could face five years to life in state prison. His trial started with jury selection on Monday and could last two weeks.