The verdict inside the Collin County courthouse may have ended one major part of Karmelo Anthony’s murder trial, but outside the building, the emotion surrounding the case was far from over. Moments after jurors found Anthony guilty of first-degree murder, tension spilled into the courthouse grounds as demonstrators reacted angrily to the decision.
Anthony, 19, was convicted in connection with the fatal stabbing of 17-year-old Austin Metcalf during a high school track meet in Frisco, Texas. The case had already drawn national attention, and the guilty verdict immediately intensified the emotions of those gathered outside the courthouse in McKinney.
Inside the courtroom, reporters said Anthony became emotional as the verdict was read. He was later escorted away from the courtroom, while his mother, Kala Hayes, remained seated and sobbing after hearing the jury’s decision.
Hayes had earlier taken the stand as the only witness called by the defense during the punishment phase. Fighting through tears, she told jurors that her son was sorry for what happened and asked them to show mercy as they considered what his future would look like.
Because Anthony was a minor at the time of the stabbing, prosecutors could not seek the death penalty. Still, the guilty verdict left him facing a serious punishment range under Texas law, with jurors set to decide how many years he would spend in prison.
Judge John Roach Jr. had instructed the jury that they could consider a lesser charge of manslaughter if they believed the evidence supported it. Instead, jurors returned a guilty verdict on the more serious first-degree murder charge, rejecting the defense’s argument that Anthony acted in self-defense.
Outside the courthouse, supporters carrying signs that read “Justice for Karmelo Anthony” moved toward barricades as law enforcement officers tried to keep order. Reports from the scene described tense exchanges between demonstrators and police as anger over the verdict spread through the crowd.
Local media reported that supporters had started gathering around noon while jurors were still deliberating. The crowd grew throughout the afternoon, and tensions rose after the verdict was delivered following several hours of jury deliberations.
The case began with the April 2, 2025 confrontation at a Frisco high school track meet, where Anthony and Metcalf crossed paths near a team tent. Prosecutors argued the stabbing was unjustified, while the defense said Anthony feared for his safety during a chaotic moment.
Now, with Anthony convicted, the case has moved into its final stage as the same jury weighs his punishment. For Austin Metcalf’s family, the verdict marked one step toward accountability, while the heated scenes outside the courthouse showed just how deeply divided and emotional the case remains.
