Karmelo Anthony, a 19-year-old, was found guilty of murder on June 9, 2026, in the fatal stabbing of 17-year-old Austin Metcalf at a Frisco, Texas, high school track meet in April 2025. A jury sentenced Anthony to 35 years in prison after rejecting his self-defense claim. The conviction followed a trial that drew national attention and sparked widespread public debate.
Crucial to the prosecution's case was security camera footage, which has now been made publicly available for the first time. The video, described as "enhanced," captured the moments leading up to and immediately following the stabbing of Metcalf by Anthony. "Presented during trial, prosecutors used the footage to highlight Anthony’s movements immediately after the stabbing and as he departed the area prior to being taken into custody," according to a recent social media post by Sarah Fields.
While the camera's distance and angle prevented a clear view of the physical interaction itself, the footage reportedly shows a "brief exchange of movement beneath the Memorial High School tent moments before Anthony abruptly exits the area and runs from the scene." This visual evidence was a key component in helping investigators and jurors reconstruct the sequence of events. The defense had argued Anthony acted in self-defense after Metcalf allegedly initiated physical contact.
The case, which involved students from rival high schools, Memorial and Centennial, became a focal point for discussions on race and justice, as Metcalf was White and Anthony is Black. Public sentiment was sharply divided, with strong support and opposition for Anthony, whose legal defense fund raised over $600,000. The release of the footage is expected to further fuel public discourse, with Fields noting that the public can "see for yourselves how much the Karmelo Anthony advocates and supporters LIED about what they saw in the video."
Anthony, who was 17 at the time of the incident, was charged as an adult. He has since filed notice to appeal his conviction, and under Texas law, he will be eligible for parole after serving 17-and-a-half years of his sentence. The footage's public release comes amidst ongoing scrutiny of the trial's fairness and the broader implications for the community.
