Karmelo Anthony Case — Fatal Stab at the Track: Teen’s Murder Trial Faces Gag Order and Delay

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In Frisco, Texas, Karmelo Anthony, now 18, awaits trial for the first-degree murder of 17-year-old Austin Metcalf, with a tentative trial date set for June 1, 2026, following his indictment on June 24, 2025.

The fatal stabbing occurred on April 2, 2025, during a high school track meet at Kuykendall Stadium, where Anthony, a student at Frisco Centennial High School, allegedly stabbed Metcalf, a junior at Frisco Memorial High School, in the chest during a confrontation.

A Collin County judge issued a sweeping gag order on July 29, 2025, barring attorneys, law enforcement, witnesses, and experts from discussing the case publicly to ensure a fair trial, with violations risking contempt of court or fines.

Anthony, released on a reduced $250,000 bond in April 2025, remains under house arrest with an ankle monitor, as the case draws national attention over issues of race and self-defense.
The case has sparked intense debate, fueled by Anthony’s claim of self-defense and conflicting narratives about the altercation. Witnesses reported Anthony was sitting under a tent designated for Memorial High School students, leading to a dispute where he allegedly said, “touch me and see what happens,” before Metcalf pushed him, prompting the stabbing.

Anthony admitted to police, “I did it,” but later questioned if his actions constituted self-defense. Surveillance video, reviewed by media but not publicly released due to privacy laws, showed no clear physical confrontation before the stabbing, weakening Anthony’s defense, according to prosecutors. A docket control hearing is scheduled for the week following August 14, 2025, to finalize the trial timeline, though the June 2026 date may shift, as it’s considered tentative.
Pre-trial developments have heightened scrutiny, with Frisco ISD subpoenaed on July 29, 2025, for student records and athlete names from the track meet, raising privacy concerns under FERPA.

Anthony’s bond reduction from $1 million to $250,000 by Judge Angela Tucker in April 2025 stirred controversy, with conditions requiring him to seek permission to leave home. His attorney, Mike Howard, called the indictment a routine step, expressing confidence that a jury will consider self-defense evidence not presented to the grand jury.

The case has also faced public backlash, with both families experiencing harassment and Metcalf’s family enduring a swatting incident. District Attorney Greg Willis emphasized pursuing justice steadily, urging support for Metcalf’s family as the community grapples with the tragedy’s impact.