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Charges Filed — Trial Underway

The Murder of Austin Metcalf

● Trial in Progress Homicide — Stabbing Frisco, Texas April 2, 2025
Victim
Austin Metcalf, 17
Location
Kuykendall Stadium, Frisco, Texas
Cause of Death
Single Stab Wound to the Chest
Charged
Karmelo Anthony, 19
Charge
First-Degree Murder
Plea
Not Guilty — Self-Defense Claimed
Trial
Collin County — Began June 1, 2026
Potential Sentence
5 to 99 Years or Life
01
Victim Profile

Austin Metcalf

Austin Metcalf
Austin Metcalf
Victim, Age 17

Austin Metcalf

Austin Metcalf was 17 years old and a junior at Memorial High School in Frisco, Texas. He was born on July 31, 2007. He carried a 3.97 GPA and had been named MVP of his football team. His father Jeff Metcalf described him as a leader who was loved by many and was on the right track. He had plans to attend college. He was an athlete in multiple sports and was competing at a district track meet on the morning he was killed.

Austin had a twin brother, Hunter Metcalf, who was also at the track meet on April 2, 2025. Witnesses at trial stated that Austin died in Hunter's arms after being stabbed. In June 2026, as the murder trial began, Hunter Metcalf graduated from Memorial High School. He accepted Austin's diploma on his behalf at the ceremony as a posthumous honor.

Austin's last words, as presented by the prosecution at trial, were: "I've been stabbed." He was 17 years old. His father stated publicly in the aftermath of the killing that the case was not about race and was not political. "This is a human being thing," Jeff Metcalf said.

01
Overview

What We Know

On the morning of April 2, 2025, a District 11 high school track meet was underway at David Kuykendall Stadium at Memorial High School in Frisco, Texas. It was raining. Students from multiple schools had gathered under pop-up tents in the bleachers area to shelter from the weather. Austin Metcalf, a junior at Memorial High School, was under his school's tent. Karmelo Anthony, a student at Centennial High School, was also in that area. The two teenagers did not know each other.

According to witnesses, including Austin's twin brother Hunter Metcalf, Austin told Anthony he was under the wrong school's tent and asked him to move. An argument followed. According to a witness account presented at trial, Anthony reached into his bag and said to Metcalf, "Touch me and see what happens." Prosecutors alleged Anthony then stabbed Metcalf in the chest in what they characterized as a "sneak, surprise attack." The confrontation took place in approximately 15 minutes from the time the Metcalf brothers arrived at the stadium to the time Anthony was led away under arrest, according to forensic video analysis presented at trial.

Austin Metcalf was stabbed once in the chest. He told those around him he had been stabbed. Coaches and bystanders rushed to help. Memorial High School's head track coach Rob Starr testified at trial that when he reached Austin, he put his hand on his leg as coaches prayed around him, and knew Austin was gone. Austin died at a hospital shortly after the stabbing. Frisco Police were called at approximately 10 a.m.

Karmelo Anthony surrendered to authorities at the scene. He told a nearby track coach from another school that he had stabbed someone who had "put his hands on me." In a police report dated April 4, 2025, Anthony admitted to the stabbing and stated it was in self-defense. He was charged with first-degree murder and tried as an adult. His defense at trial maintains he acted in self-defense. The prosecution contends the stabbing was a deliberate, unprovoked attack and that Anthony came prepared with a weapon.

02
Chronology

Case Timeline

April 2, 2025 — Approximately 10:00 a.m.
Austin Metcalf Is Stabbed at Kuykendall Stadium
During a District 11 high school track meet at Kuykendall Stadium in Frisco, Texas, an argument breaks out between Austin Metcalf of Memorial High School and Karmelo Anthony of Centennial High School under a team tent in the bleachers. According to prosecutors, Anthony stabs Metcalf once in the chest with a pocketknife. Metcalf says "I've been stabbed" and collapses. Coaches and bystanders rush to aid him. Anthony surrenders to authorities at the scene and tells a coach he stabbed someone who "put his hands on me." Frisco Police are called at approximately 10 a.m.
April 2, 2025
Austin Metcalf Dies; Anthony Arrested and Charged
Austin Metcalf is transported to a hospital where he dies from the stab wound to his chest. Karmelo Anthony is arrested and charged. He is held on an initial bond of $1 million. An April 4 police report records Anthony's statement admitting to the stabbing and claiming self-defense.
April 14, 2025
Bond Reduced; Anthony Released to House Arrest
A judge reduces Anthony's bond. He is released from jail and placed on house arrest while awaiting trial. The case draws significant national attention, including online misinformation campaigns and fundraising on both sides. Austin's father publicly condemns those who have attempted to make the case a racial or political issue.
June 2025
Grand Jury Indictment; Surveillance Video Reviewed
A Collin County grand jury indicts Anthony on a first-degree murder charge. Frisco ISD releases surveillance footage of the incident to select media under Texas open records law; members of the press are permitted to view it in person and take written notes only. Collin County DA Greg Willis states the case struck a deep nerve across the county and beyond.
July 2025
Gag Order Issued; Trial Date Set
Collin County District Judge John Roach Jr. issues a gag order barring attorneys, witnesses, law enforcement, and court staff from discussing the case publicly. A trial date is set for June 1, 2026. Anthony pleads not guilty.
June 2026 — Hunter Metcalf Graduates
Austin's Twin Accepts His Diploma Posthumously
As the trial begins, Austin Metcalf's twin brother Hunter graduates from Memorial High School. He accepts Austin's diploma on his behalf at the ceremony as a posthumous honor to his brother.
June 1 to 3, 2026
Jury Selected Under Tight Security
Jury selection begins at the Collin County Courthouse in McKinney under significantly heightened security. Demonstrators gather outside the courthouse perimeter. A jury of 12 with 6 alternates is seated on June 3. Judge Roach has imposed strict courtroom rules including no photography, video, or audio recording, a limit of nine media members inside the courtroom, and no public release of trial exhibits until the trial concludes.
June 4, 2026 — Trial Day 3
Opening Statements and First Testimony
Opening statements are delivered. Prosecutor Bill Wirskye tells jurors the stabbing was a "sneak, surprise attack" and a "senseless murder." Defense attorney Toby Shook argues Anthony acted in self-defense. The prosecution calls Memorial High School head track coach Rob Starr, who testifies he knew Austin was gone after reaching him on the field. Enhanced surveillance video is shown to jurors. Testimony is expected to continue through approximately June 18, 2026. No verdict has been reached as of June 4, 2026.
03
Law Enforcement

The Investigation

Frisco Police were called to Kuykendall Stadium at approximately 10 a.m. on April 2, 2025, following the stabbing. Karmelo Anthony had not fled. He surrendered at the scene and made statements to those around him acknowledging the stabbing. A police report dated April 4, 2025 recorded Anthony's admission that he had stabbed Metcalf, along with his claim that he did so in self-defense because Metcalf had put his hands on him.

Frisco ISD released surveillance footage of the incident in June 2025 pursuant to Texas open records law. The footage was not made publicly available for download or broadcast; instead, selected media representatives were permitted to view it in person and take written notes only. CBS News Texas investigative producer Kelsy Mittauer was among those who reviewed the footage in person. At trial, enhanced forensic analysis of the video was presented to jurors. A prosecution witness, forensic video analyst Mark Porter, testified that 15 minutes elapsed from the time the Metcalf brothers arrived at the stadium to the time Anthony was led away under arrest. The defense, on cross-examination, pressed Porter to acknowledge that the video did not definitively show when the argument between Anthony and Metcalf began or ended.

The case drew immediate national attention, in part because of the racial identities of those involved and because it occurred at a public school sporting event with many witnesses. Collin County District Attorney Greg Willis took over the prosecution. A gag order issued by Judge Roach in July 2025 prohibited all parties connected to the case from discussing it publicly. Additional media restrictions were imposed in April 2026 ahead of trial. The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Bill Wirskye, who had previously prosecuted high-profile homicide cases in Texas. The defense is led by attorney Toby Shook. Anthony was held on $1 million bond initially, which was later reduced, and he spent the pre-trial period on house arrest.

Kuykendall Stadium — scene of the stabbing
Kuykendall Stadium, Frisco, Texas

No publicly accessible court documents or downloadable affidavits have been released in connection with this case as of June 4, 2026. Trial exhibits are under seal pending the conclusion of proceedings per Judge Roach's order. This page will be updated as the trial proceeds and as the case record becomes available.

04
Charged — Trial Underway

The Accused

Karmelo Anthony
Karmelo Anthony
Charged — First-Degree Murder
Age at Time of Offense: 17
Age at Trial: 19
School at Time of Offense: Centennial High School, Frisco, Texas
Tried As: Adult
Charge: First-Degree Murder
Plea: Not Guilty — Self-Defense Claimed
Indicted: June 2025 — Collin County Grand Jury
Trial: Collin County Superior Court, McKinney, Texas — Began June 1, 2026
Judge: Hon. John Roach Jr., Collin County
Prosecutor: Bill Wirskye, Collin County District Attorney's Office
Defense Attorney: Toby Shook
Potential Sentence if Convicted: 5 to 99 years or life in prison
Case Status — As of June 4, 2026
Karmelo Anthony is charged with first-degree murder in the death of Austin Metcalf. He has pleaded not guilty, claiming self-defense. He admitted to the stabbing in a police report shortly after the incident. He was tried as an adult under Texas law, which classifies 17-year-olds as adults in the criminal justice system. The trial began June 1, 2026 in Collin County and is expected to last approximately two weeks. Opening statements were delivered on June 4, 2026. No verdict has been reached. If convicted, Anthony faces a sentence of 5 to 99 years or life in prison. He does not face the death penalty as this is a murder charge rather than capital murder.
Forensic Breakdown

Case Analysis

The Self-Defense Claim
Anthony's defense rests on a claim of self-defense, arguing that he was physically threatened by Metcalf before producing the knife. Under Texas law, a person is justified in using force to protect themselves if they reasonably believe it is immediately necessary to prevent the other person's use of unlawful force. The use of deadly force is justified only if a person reasonably believes it is immediately necessary to prevent death or serious bodily injury. The central evidentiary dispute is whether Metcalf's conduct at the time of the stabbing justified lethal force. Prosecutors argue the attack was unprovoked and premeditated; the defense contends Metcalf was the physical aggressor. The surveillance footage and witness testimony are the primary material for that determination.
Weapon at a School Event
Anthony is alleged to have brought a pocketknife to a sanctioned school district track meet. Memorial High School's head track coach testified at trial that weapons are not allowed "in any shape, form, or fashion" at such events. The presence of a weapon at a school event is a significant factor in the prosecution's case because it speaks to preparation and intent. The prosecution's framing that Anthony "reached into his bag" before stabbing Metcalf, if accepted by the jury, suggests the weapon was accessed deliberately rather than drawn in the moment of a sudden physical confrontation. Whether Anthony carried the knife habitually or brought it with specific intent is a question the trial has not yet publicly resolved.
Adolescent Offenders Tried as Adults
Both Anthony and Metcalf were 17 at the time of the incident. In Texas, individuals aged 17 and above are automatically processed as adults in the criminal justice system, meaning no transfer hearing was required. Anthony, now 19, faces the full range of adult sentencing including up to life in prison. Research on adolescent brain development and impulsive decision-making in conflict situations is a standard component of defense arguments in cases involving teenage defendants, and is likely to be part of the mitigation record even if not central to the guilt-innocence phase of the trial.
Surveillance Evidence and Its Limits
Frisco ISD stadium surveillance footage captured the incident and was reviewed by select media under Texas open records law. At trial, enhanced forensic video analysis was presented. The defense cross-examined the prosecution's forensic video witness to establish that the footage does not definitively show when the verbal altercation began, a point relevant to the timeline of provocation. Surveillance footage in confined public spaces like stadium bleacher areas may not capture the full sequence of physical interactions, particularly in poor weather conditions. The prosecution and defense have offered sharply divergent interpretations of the same footage, consistent with how surveillance evidence functions in contested self-defense cases.
Witness Testimony and Scene Account
The track meet involved multiple schools and had many witnesses present. Multiple coaches and athletes were in the immediate area at the time of the stabbing. Austin's twin brother Hunter was present and witnessed his brother's death. The prosecution has called coaches and witnesses who observed both the confrontation and its aftermath. Eyewitness testimony in a chaotic, crowded, rainy environment involves well-documented reliability limitations, including confirmation bias, partial observation, and the influence of trauma on memory encoding. Both sides will argue from the witness record, and the credibility assessments made by the jury will be central to the verdict.
National Attention and Courtroom Security
The case attracted national media coverage and significant online activity, including misinformation, fundraising, and commentary driven in part by the racial identities of the two teenagers involved. Austin Metcalf's father explicitly stated the case was not about race. A small group of white nationalist demonstrators appeared outside the courthouse on June 4, 2026, alongside other demonstrators. Judge Roach's gag order and courtroom restrictions reflect the heightened security environment and the risk of pre-trial publicity affecting juror impartiality. The prosecution raised the issue of race during jury selection, with the assistant DA noting he had never in his career been required to have such an explicit conversation about race with a jury panel.
In Memoriam

They Are Not Forgotten

Austin Metcalf was 17 years old and he went to a track meet. That is all he did. He went to a school sporting event on a rainy Wednesday morning in April and he did not come home. He had a 3.97 GPA. He was MVP of his football team. He had a twin brother who stood next to him that morning and watched him die. He had a father who loved him and who has had to stand in front of cameras and tell the world not to make his son's death into something it was not.

Austin's last words were three words. He said what had happened to him so that the people around him would know and could help. He was 17 years old and even in that moment he was clear. His brother Hunter held him. A track coach knelt beside him and prayed. The rain came down hard and everyone who was there knew Austin Metcalf was gone.

This past June, Hunter Metcalf walked across a graduation stage and accepted two diplomas. His own and his brother's. That image is the shape of what was taken: a twin who had to become the one who carries both of them forward.

Austin Metcalf was on the right track. His father said so. He was loved by many. He was a leader. He was 17 years old and he deserved to finish what he had started. He is not forgotten.

Austin Metcalf — In Memoriam
Sources
CBS News Texas — Live trial updates: State v. Karmelo Anthony (June 1 to 4, 2026) | NBC DFW — "Witnesses share heartbreaking efforts to save victim's life on Day 1 of Karmelo Anthony murder trial" (June 4, 2026) | NBC News — "Karmelo Anthony's murder trial opens with clashing portraits of a fatal stabbing" (June 4, 2026) | CNN — "Texas murder trial underway for Karmelo Anthony, accused of killing school athlete rival" (June 4, 2026) | WFAA — Live trial updates: State v. Karmelo Anthony (June 4, 2026) | Fox 4 Dallas — "Karmelo Anthony Trial: Jurors watch stabbing videos following opening statements" (June 4, 2026) | NewsNation — "Karmelo Anthony stabbed Austin Metcalf in a 'sneak attack,' prosecutors say" (June 4, 2026) | Biography.com — "Who Is Karmelo Anthony? All About the Texas Teenager on Trial for Austin Metcalf's Murder" (June 1, 2026) | CBS Texas — "The trial of Karmelo Anthony is set to begin. Here's what happened and what to expect" (June 2026) | Wikipedia — "Killing of Austin Metcalf"
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