Karmelo Anthony’s family is speaking out after the 19-year-old was convicted of murder and sentenced to 35 years in prison for the fatal stabbing of 17-year-old Austin Metcalf during a Texas high school track meet. The sentence ended the trial, but it did not end the public fight surrounding the case.
Anthony was found guilty after jurors rejected his self-defense claim in connection with the April 2025 confrontation in Frisco. The same jury later handed down a 35-year prison sentence after also rejecting the defense’s final effort to reduce the punishment through a “sudden passion” argument.
Outside the courtroom, emotions were intense as Anthony’s family and supporters reacted to the verdict. Some described the outcome with one blunt word: “racist.” Others used words like “bias” while arguing that Anthony did not receive a fair trial.
Anthony’s mother, Kala Hayes, had already made an emotional plea inside the courtroom, asking jurors to show mercy to her son. Through tears, she described him as her oldest child and said she believed he was sorry for what happened.
But after the sentence, the family’s tone shifted from pleading to defiant. Hayes and Anthony’s supporters continued to stand behind him, insisting that the fight was not over despite the guilty verdict and prison term.
The family’s frustration centered partly on claims about jury selection. Anthony’s supporters have pointed to the fact that the final jury did not include Black jurors, arguing that the process raised serious concerns about fairness.
The trial judge had already rejected claims of racial bias during the proceedings, but Anthony’s legal team has now filed a notice of appeal. That means a higher court may review whether legal errors happened during the trial that could have affected the outcome.
An appeal does not erase the conviction or sentence. Anthony remains convicted and sentenced to 35 years, but the filing opens a new legal chapter and gives his defense a chance to challenge the trial record.
For Austin Metcalf’s family, the verdict and sentence brought one part of the process to a close, but not the pain. During victim impact statements, Austin’s parents and twin brother spoke about the permanent loss left behind and the future Austin will never get to live.
Now, both families remain on opposite sides of a case that continues to divide public opinion. Anthony’s family is preparing for an appeal, while Austin’s family is left grieving a son and brother whose life ended at a school event that changed everything.
