Overview
- Prosecutors have charged Karmelo Anthony with first‑degree murder over the April 2, 2025, stabbing of 17‑year‑old Austin Metcalf and say they will call roughly 35 witnesses to prove guilt.
- Defense lawyers plan to center the case on self‑defense, arguing Anthony feared for his safety during a confrontation under a team tent at the Frisco track meet.
- Jury selection produced a 12‑member panel with no Black jurors after the judge upheld prosecution strikes that it said were race‑neutral because some prospective jurors were educators.
- Court officials imposed strict rules, including a gag order and bans on phones and recording devices, as protests, online fundraising of roughly $600,000 for Anthony, doxxing and threats raised security concerns.
- The trial's outcome could shape public trust in the process because of the racial tensions, contested juror strikes and the large fundraiser that may allow the defense to hire expert witnesses.