Karmelo Anthony, a 19-year-old from Texas, was sentenced to 35 years in prison on Tuesday, 9 June 2026, after a jury found him guilty of first-degree murder in the stabbing death of 17-year-old Austin Metcalf at a high school track meet.
The jury in Collin County, Texas, took approximately three hours to reach the guilty verdict before recommending the 35-year sentence.
As reported by CNN, Anthony filed a notice of appeal on Wednesday, 10 June, one day after the verdict, stating he cannot afford legal representation and requesting a court-appointed attorney for the appeal process.
How the Karmelo Anthony murder trial came to a verdict
The incident occurred in April 2025 at a high school track meet in Frisco, Texas, when Anthony and Metcalf became involved in an altercation over Anthony’s presence under Metcalf’s school tent during a rain shower.
Witnesses testified the dispute escalated before Anthony stabbed Metcalf, who was 17 at the time.
Austin Metcalf died from his injuries at the scene. The stabbing took place in front of athletes and spectators attending the Frisco ISD track meet, and footage from the event circulated widely on social media in the hours that followed.
The case drew sustained national attention in the United States over the 14 months from the stabbing to the verdict, partly because both Anthony and Metcalf were teenagers at the time.
Prosecutors described the killing as “senseless and plain and simple murder,” while the defence argued Anthony acted in self-defence. The jury received the case midday on Tuesday, 9 June, and returned the guilty verdict in approximately three hours.
Anthony faced up to a life sentence before the jury settled on 35 years.
Following the sentencing, Austin Metcalf’s parents and his twin brother delivered victim impact statements in court, addressing Anthony directly. The moment was deeply emotional for those present.
Online reaction to the verdict split sharply, with debate continuing between those who viewed the outcome as justice served and those who argued the sentence was excessive for a teenager.
What Karmelo Anthony’s appeal could argue
The appeal notice was filed in the 5th District Court of Appeals in Dallas, which handles all Collin County cases. Anthony’s lead attorney Mike Howard confirmed the filing after the verdict.
One avenue that could feature in the appeal is a Batson challenge raised during jury selection, in which the defence alleged that prosecutors struck three jurors on the basis of their race, a claim that was not resolved to the defence’s satisfaction during the trial.
What comes next in the Karmelo Anthony case
Anthony begins his 35-year sentence having already indicated his intention to challenge the conviction through the appeals process.
Texas law grants a convicted party 30 days from final sentencing to file a notice of appeal, and Anthony’s filing came within 24 hours of the verdict, placing the case on a formal appellate track.
The appeal itself will be heard at a future date to be set by the 5th District Court.
