A 19-year-old charged with first-degree murder walked out of jail on reduced bond and returned to house arrest while the family of the 17-year-old he fatally stabbed continues to navigate life without their son.
Karmelo Anthony faces trial starting with jury selection today, June 1, 2026, in Collin County, Texas, for the death of Austin Metcalf, according to local court coverage of the June 1 jury selection. The 296th District Court in McKinney, presided over by Judge John R. Roach, will hear the case. The incident happened on April 2, 2025, at a high school track meet in Frisco. Austin died from a single stab wound to the chest during a brief but deadly confrontation.
That morning at David Kuykendall Stadium, rain delayed the UIL district track meet. Anthony, a student from Centennial High School, sought shelter under Memorial High School’s team tent. Witnesses said Austin Metcalf and his twin brother Hunter asked Anthony to leave because he was in the wrong team’s area. Words were exchanged. Anthony reportedly warned, “Touch me and see what happens,” while reaching into his backpack. Austin pushed or grabbed him to move him out. Anthony pulled out a black knife and stabbed Austin once in the chest. Austin collapsed and died despite efforts to save him. Anthony fled a short distance before surrendering to police and telling officers he acted in self-defense.
Austin Metcalf, a junior at Memorial High School, was a dedicated football player, track athlete, and strong student with a near-perfect GPA. Those who knew him described him as kind, hardworking, and someone who looked out for his teammates and family. His death left a profound void. His twin brother Hunter witnessed the stabbing. The family has focused on honoring Austin’s memory through community support while grieving privately. Both the Metcalf and Anthony families have faced harassment in the form of repeated swatting calls at their homes, a pattern documented by Frisco police and Fox4’s reporting on the swatting incidents. Austin’s father, Jeff Metcalf, has spoken about his belief that justice will be served, though nothing can bring his son back.
Anthony, who was 17 at the time and is being tried as an adult, was taken into custody at the scene. He has maintained that he acted to protect himself after being pushed. Prosecutors contend the introduction of a knife escalated a minor dispute into a tragedy. A grand jury indicted him on first-degree murder charges in June 2025. His initial $1 million bond was reduced to $250,000 on April 14, 2025, after a hearing where his clean prior record and lack of flight risk were cited, per WFAA’s report on the bond reduction. His family posted the reduced bond, allowing his release to house arrest with an ankle monitor, adult supervision, and strict conditions including no contact with the victim’s family. A crowdfunding campaign supporting his legal defense raised hundreds of thousands of dollars, with some donors framing the effort around broader themes of perceived injustice. The case fits a wider pattern of anti-knife violence advocacy that has grown louder in recent years, while the trial itself is drawing the kind of live courtroom coverage typically reserved for celebrity trials.
This case touches on deeper issues that affect many families: how quickly a disagreement among teenagers can turn fatal, the challenges of deciding bail in violent cases, and the way public narratives can divide communities. Texas self-defense laws will be central to the trial, as the defense argues Anthony faced imminent harm while prosecutors see an unjustified use of deadly force. A gag order and strict courtroom rules issued ahead of trial aim to protect the fairness of the proceedings amid strong emotions on all sides, according to WFAA’s coverage of the judge’s order.
For Austin’s loved ones, the trial represents another painful step forward. They carry memories of a young man full of potential whose life ended too soon over something as ordinary as seating during a rain delay. Anthony’s family has also expressed pain and a belief in his innocence. Both sides now face the reality of a courtroom process that will examine evidence, witness accounts, and the choices made that day. Court records and official filings remain the clearest source for verified details on the charges and timeline. As jury selection begins in McKinney, the hope on all sides is that the process brings clarity and some measure of resolution.
