Witnesses describe fatal stabbing at Texas track meet

Student witnesses in a Texas murder trial testified Friday that Karmelo Anthony provoked the confrontation that ended with 17-year-old Austin Metcalf fatally stabbed in the chest during a high school track meet, while defense lawyers pressed their argument that Anthony acted in self-defense after Metcalf pushed him.

Anthony, now 19, is charged with first-degree murder in Metcalf’s death at a Frisco independent school district track meet at Kuykendall Stadium on April 2, 2025. Anthony, who is Black, was 17 at the time and attended Centennial High School. Metcalf, who was white, attended rival Memorial High School in Frisco. Anthony has pleaded not guilty.

The case has drawn national attention in part because of its racial dynamics. A jury with no Black members is hearing the case, a composition that has drawn criticism from some advocacy groups and trial observers. Collin County First Assistant District Attorney Bill Wirskye told jurors the case “has nothing to do with race,” arguing that Anthony took a knife and “buried it into the heart of another young man, causing his death — and then ran away.”

Several classmates testified that Anthony sat uninvited in the bleachers under a tent reserved for Memorial High School while wearing Centennial gear. It was raining, witnesses said. They testified that multiple students told Anthony to leave, including Metcalf, a football player whose father has said he had been an MVP.

One 17-year-old witness said Anthony repeated, “touch me and find out,” while keeping his hands in a backpack. The witness said Metcalf leaned in to push Anthony and was stabbed, though he did not see the knife. “Austin leans in to push him, and Karmelo stabs him,” the witness testified, according to The Guardian. “Karmelo had his hands inside a backpack, and we thought it was a bluff.”

The witness described the push as neither light nor hard, but “more of an in-between.” Another witness, Jaylen Matthewes, 18, said Metcalf’s push was enough to get Anthony out of his seat but not enough to hurt him. Witnesses also said Anthony appeared friendly and relaxed when he first sat down.

Defense attorneys focused on Metcalf’s role in the physical confrontation. Attorney Mike Howard told jurors Anthony is 5 feet 8 inches tall and about 130 pounds, while Metcalf was about 6 feet 1 inch and 215 pounds. Under questioning by defense attorney Toby Shook, one witness agreed Metcalf was about 50 pounds heavier than Anthony and that some people could find him intimidating.

Jurors saw surveillance footage from the stadium, including unaltered and enhanced recordings showing students gathered under the Memorial tent, pushing near the back of the tent shortly before the stabbing, students running out and Anthony leaving the area, The Guardian reported, citing CBS.

School resource officer Eduardo Cortez testified that he detained Anthony after the stabbing. Body camera footage showed Anthony with his hands raised as Cortez radioed that he had located the “alleged suspect.” Cortez said Anthony responded, “I’m not alleged. I did it,” and added, “He put his hands on me. I told him not to. He put his hands on me.” Cortez also testified that there was “a little blood on his left middle finger.”

Heritage High School head football coach Vincent Hooper testified that Anthony told him, “He put his hands on me” and “I stabbed him.” Hooper added, “I don’t think he thought he stabbed him in the spot he stabbed him in.”

Prosecutors showed jurors photos of the knife recovered at the scene, and Wirskye displayed the black-bladed knife in court. Frisco police officer Jacob Shalz testified that it was found three to four rows above the stabbing site and was not fully open. Photos showed the blade measured about 3.5 inches, NBC News reported, while The Guardian, citing CBS, described photos of a blood-stained, 5-inch folding knife. Shalz testified that the type of knife is commonly carried as a tool rather than a weapon.

The courtroom also saw body camera footage of the aftermath, showing Metcalf bloodied on the ground near the bleachers while his twin brother, Hunter, cried for help. “My brother, my best friend — hurry up,” Hunter yelled. “He’s very messed up.” Frisco firefighter and paramedic Neil Adams testified that responders tried to save Metcalf. “We kept doing everything we could,” he said. “It didn’t help.”

State District Court Judge John Roach Jr. barred public identification of minor witnesses. If convicted, Anthony faces a sentence that could begin at five years in prison; NBC News reported the range as five to 99 years, while The Guardian reported five years to life.