Live Updates: Karmelo Anthony murder trial in fatal stabbing of Austin Metcalf at Frisco ISD track meet

The Karmelo Anthony trial continued Saturday for almost nine hours with about a dozen witnesses at the Collin County Courthouse. Many of them broke down in tears while testifying. Anthony is charged with the stabbing death of 17-year-old Austin Metcalf at a Frisco track meet in April 2025.

The prosecution rested after calling 21 witnesses. The defense then began presenting its case.

Some of the most gripping testimony came from the medical examiner. The judge warned the courtroom that the information would be graphic, prompting Metcalf's family to leave the room.

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The judge has adjourned court for the day and instructed everyone to return at 9 a.m. Monday. 

He reminded jurors not to discuss the case or consume any news about the trial in the meantime.  

After the break, the 17‑year‑old from Frisco Memorial returned to the stand and said he called 911. 

The prosecutor asked him to demonstrate a stabbing motion, then pressed him on who he believed was in the right. 

"I think Karmelo was in the wrong," the teen said. 

When asked whether Karmelo Anthony provoked the confrontation, he answered, "Yes."

The court has paused for a 12‑minute break, beginning at 4:54 p.m.  

A new defense witness – a 17‑year‑old male student from Frisco Memorial High School – took the stand as testimony continued.

Defense: "It was raining hard enough for people to be under tents?" 

Witness: "Yes."

Defense: "I want to talk about Melo coming to the tent. It was clear Eddie knew Melo?"

Witness: "Yes."

Defense: "From Melo entering the tent and interacting with Eddie, it was clear they knew each other?" 

Witness: "Yes."

Defense: "Eddie called Karmelo over to the tent?" 

Witness: "Yes, sir."

Defense: "The interaction between Eddie and Melo was friendly?" 

Witness: "Yes, sir."

Defense: "After Eddie called him over, Melo sat down?" 

Witness: "Yes."

Defense: "For about five minutes? Friendly talk? No one expressed a problem with Melo being there?" 

Witness: "No."

Defense: "Do you recall the first person to say to Melo, 'Who are you?'" 

Witness: "Hunter Melcalf."

Defense: "Hunter is a big guy?" 

Witness: "You could say."

Defense: "At the time of the event, Austin was a little bigger?" 

Witness: "I'd say substantially bigger."

Defense: "I believe you told the detective Hunter didn't tolerate being disrespected?" 

Witness: "Yes."

Defense: "So Hunter tells Melo to leave?" 

Witness: "Yes."

Defense: "Melo said, 'No one has a problem with me being here besides you?'" 

Witness: "Yes."

Defense: "At some point, Austin and Hunter stand up? They had been seated?" 

Witness: "Yes."

Defense: "If you put Melo and Austin next to each other, Melo is smaller?" 

Witness: "Yes."

Defense: "Hunter started with a moderate tone, and it got more aggressive?" 

Witness: "Yes, sir."

Defense: "Do you remember telling the detective, 'You need to move before I beat your a--'?" 

Witness: "I don't recall saying that."

The defense approaches the witness with papers. The witness agrees that Austin said something like that, or something similar, about wanting to beat his a--.

Defense: "Austin is standing up. Melo is still seated?" 

Witness: "Yes."

Defense: "That's when Melo reached into his bag, after Austin mentioned something about wanting to beat his a-?" 

Witness: "Yes."

Defense: "Austin calls his bluff and says, 'I know you don't have anything in that bag'?" 

Witness: "Yes."

Defense: "For Austin to make his way to Melo, he has to move up five rows?" 

Witness: "Yes."

Defense: "Austin takes a step or two, and then they talk, and that continues?" 

Witness: "Yes."

Defense: "All this time, as Austin is moving closer to Melo, Melo is seated with his hand in the bag, like 'don't come closer to me'?"

Witness: "Yes, sir."

Defense: "Melo says, 'As long as you don't touch me, we're cool,' or, 'Don't touch me'?" 

Witness: "Yes."

Defense: "You told the detective Austin reached up and tapped Karmelo on the shoulder? Melo is still seated?" 

Witness: "Yes."

Defense: "There's a touch, and then there's a grab?" 

Witness: "Yes."

Defense: "He [Austin] grabbed with both hands?" 

Witness: "Both of his hands were in motion."

Defense: "Austin is reaching for Melo, and at that point, Melo's hand comes out of the bag?" 

Witness: "Yes."

A new defense witness took the stand – an 18‑year‑old Frisco Centennial High School graduate who spent four years in the football program and three years running track, alongside his fraternal twin brother.

Defense: "Did you know Karmelo Anthony? What did you know him as?" 

Witness: "Yes. We called him Melo."

Defense: "How would you describe your relationship?" 

Witness: "I'd say we're friends. We hung out."

Defense: "How's track different from a football game?" 

Witness: "There's way more people, and you can walk around."

Defense: "A part of track is making friends. Would you agree with that? Did you have friends from other teams?" 

Witness: "Yes."

Defense: "Did you spend time under other teams' tents?" 

Witness: "Yes."

Defense: "Did you see other kids doing the same?" 

Witness: "Yes, sir."

Defense: "Did you ever have a problem doing that where you were told you shouldn't be doing that?" 

Witness: "No, sir."

Defense: "Would you sometimes sit down and have a conversation? Would you spend more time in the tent?" 

Witness: "I'd spend some time."

Defense: "Have you ever been in the Memorial tent before?" 

Witness: "Yes."

Defense: "Was it say hi and leave or spend time and hang out?" 

Witness: "We'd spend time hanging out."

Defense: "Was it just you?" 

Witness: "Me and Karmelo. We both had friends at Memorial."

Defense: "How much time did you spend?" 

Witness: "About 10 minutes."

Defense: "Were there any problems with that?" 

Witness: "No."

Prosecutor: "There's no need for a knife at a track meet?" 

Witness: "No."

Prosecutor: "As far as you know, Frisco ISD's policy of not having a knife at a track meet has never been violated." 

Witness: "It hasn't."

Defense attorney Mike Howard called Centennial High School football and track coach Adam Linwood to the stand. Linwood testified that track is a more relaxed, player‑driven sport compared with football and that athletes from different schools routinely mingle, saying he knew of no policy preventing students from entering other teams' tent areas.

He confirmed that Karmelo "Melo" Anthony was widely known as "Melo," was a team‑elected football captain, and served as a starting defensive back in 2024. Linwood said Karmelo's football season ended early due to a significant shoulder injury requiring surgery, and he wore his arm in a sling afterward. He also confirmed Karmelo participated in track events, including the Lobo Invitational in March, and that on April 2, the team's tent was not on the morning bus, even though Karmelo needed to arrive early for his events.

During cross‑examination, prosecutor Bill Wirskye asked when Linwood last spoke with Karmelo; Linwood said the day of the event. Wirskye emphasized that weapons are prohibited at track meets, asked whether the coach would approve of an athlete stabbing another athlete, and Linwood said no. The prosecutor also pressed that athletes should not end up in another team's tent, and Linwood agreed. When shown a knife replica, Linwood said there was no reason for an athlete to have a knife at a track meet.

The court is back in session. The judge is allowing empty seats to be filled. The defense is starting to call witnesses.

After presenting 21 witnesses, the state rested its case. The defense immediately moved for a directed verdict, arguing that the prosecution had failed to meet its burden of proof. The prosecutor countered that the state had indeed established its case.

The judge denied the defense's motion, allowing the trial to proceed, and then ordered a 10‑minute recess.

The medical examiner is explaining Metcalf's stab wound, accompanied by a series of graphic photos.

CBS News reporter Dawn White says several jurors look emotional and are putting a hand over their mouths.

The medical examiner said the knife penetrated Metcalf's heart, and the wound measured two inches in "gapping" length.

The prosecution asked the medical examiner, "Is the wound survivable?"

"No," the medical examiner said. 

Following testimony from the teen witnesses, the prosecution called the Collin County medical examiner to the stand. Before proceeding, the prosecutor warned the courtroom that the upcoming details would be graphic, offering anyone sensitive to the material to leave.

Metcalf's family left the room. 

The judge then called a break. 

The teen witness said Anthony and Metcalf called each other an expletive before the stabbing happened. 

 Defense: "When did Karmelo put his hand in his backpack?" 

Witness: "It was after the b***h comment. Austin said, 'You don't have anything in there.'"  

The teen said that's when Metcalf shoved Anthony, but said it wasn't hard. After that, is when Metcalf fell back. 

After a lunch break, the defense began cross-examining the same teen witness.

The defense is showing photos of him and Anthony together: a 50th birthday party for Anthony's ex-girlfriend's mom, a group basketball picture, and a marshmallow roast.

Defense: "You've seen Karmelo a lot more than two or three times."

Witness: "It was only when his girlfriend was around. We didn't hang out alone much."

Defense: "It's not a surprise he came into the tent and dabbed you up?"

Witness: "We were cool with each other."

Defense: "You knew him. He'd been to your house. You didn't think to speak up and say you know him?"

Witness: "No. I wasn't really paying attention to him. I was paying attention to jumpers."

Defense: "You didn't feel you needed to calm the situation down?"

Witness: "I didn't think I needed to."

A fourth teen took the stand Saturday; however, this witness had close ties to both Anthony and the Metcalf brothers.

The teen, who is also a Frisco Memorial athlete, said he knew Anthony prior to the track meet because of Anthony's ex-girlfriend and is also a close friend of Austin Metcalf.

The teen testified that he and Anthony shared an "hi" and he "dabbed him up" when he saw Anthony under the Memorial tent.

Prosecutor: "After you stop talking to him, did you see any other teammates talk to him?"

Witness: "Yeah, Austin said, 'Who are you?'"

The teen went on to describe that Anthony got defensive when he was asked to get out of the tent.

Witness: "Karmelo said you'll have to move me. Austin put his hand on his back. I saw Karmelo's hand go in the backpack. We're at a track meet. I wouldn't expect anything to be in there. Karmelo said, 'Touch me. You'll have to move me, and find out,' trying to provoke him.'"

A third witness from Frisco Memorial was called to the stand on Saturday. He described seeing Anthony in the tent and finding it strange, since everyone normally stays in their own team's tent.

He testified that when asked to leave, Anthony became more aggressive.

"What does he say next?" the prosecutor asked.

"F you all. I'm not going to leave. You're all a bunch of p******," the witness said.

The witness testified that Metcalf took the lead in the situation.

Prosecutor: "Did Austin take the lead?"

Witness: "Yes. Karmelo put his hand in the bag and said five times, 'Touch me and see what happens.' Austin said he's not going to touch this guy. He was calm."

Prosecutor: "What did you see during the stabbing?"

Witness: "You saw a big hole and blood coming from his upper body."

He then answered a question, calling Anthony the aggressor.

Prosecutor: "What's your opinion?"

Witness: "My opinion is Austin didn't deserve what happened."

Another teen witness, who was a freshman at the time of the stabbing, was called to the stand by the prosecution. The teen described the scene that day and shared his account of what led to the stabbing of Metcalf. 

When asked what Anthony did when he was asked to leave the Memorial track tent multiple times, the witness said, "He doesn't leave. He gets angry and tries to provoke us, saying, 'Make me leave.'" 

When asked, "Was Austin or Karmelo instigating?"

The witness said, "Yes, Karmelo."

When cross-examined, defense attorney Shook asked, "When Austin decided to push him out, how did he get to him?"

"He walked over to him," the witness answered. 

Shook: "Was Karmelo still sitting down?"

Witness: "I think so."

Shook: "Did he grab or push him?"

Witness: "He pushed him on his shoulder area with both hands.

Then, prosecutor Bill Wirskye asked, "What happens next?"

Witness: "Austin tries to force him out, because we didn't have any other choice."

The witness was then asked by the Wirskye whether the stabbing was self-defense or murder. 

Witness: "This was murder." 

During cross-examination of the 17-year-old, defense attorney Toby Shook asked, "Do you remember telling the detective that Hunter [Metcalf] popped in and defended Austin?"

Witness: "Yes."

Shook: "Do you remember in your written statement saying Austin put his hand on his shoulder to intimidate?" 

Witness: "Yes. More of a warning. Actions speak louder than words."

Shook: "Bigger build?" (Austin)

Witness: "Yeah, more broad."

Then, the witness was asked to step down. 

The 17-year-old witness said he was in the tent when Austin Metcalf asked Anthony to leave.

Prosecutor: "Was it your impression Karmelo Anthony was trying to provoke Austin Metcalf?"

Witness: "Yes."

Prosecutor: "Did Austin respond to being provoked?"

Witness: "He put his hand on his shoulder."

Prosecutor: "Did you see the motion?"

Witness: "Yes."

Prosecutor: "Were you surprised?"

Witness: "You don't expect someone to get stabbed at a track meet."

The teen told the prosecution that after the stabbing, he went into a state of panic because "Austin was moving, and I saw the cut on his chest."

He said he and other teammates ran.

Prosecutor: "Was there any reason you saw for Karmelo Anthony to stab Austin Metcalfe?"

Witness "No."

Prosecutor: "Was Karmelo Anthony acting in self-defense?"

Witness: "No, that's lethal force against non-lethal force."

To open the third day of testimony in the Karmelo Anthony murder trial on Saturday, June 6, the prosecution called a 17-year-old witness, a track athlete from Memorial High School, to testify.

He said he's aware that weapons aren't to be brought to a track meet. He was in the tent on the day of the crime and said the only people there were his teammates.

The witness said he was looking around, looked back, and saw someone he didn't recognize as a teammate. "I didn't see any school gear, so it threw me off." 

"If you're a guest, you're supposed to be on the other side of the stadium."

Prosecutor: "Did any of your teammates know who he was?"

Witness: "No one knew who he was."

Proceedings wrapped for the day at 5:05 p.m. Friday in the Karmelo Anthony murder trial. 

The jury was dismissed and instructed to return at 9 a.m. Saturday for the next session of testimony.  

The parade of student-athlete witnesses continued into late Friday afternoon.

A 17-year-old Frisco Memorial High School athlete and friend of Austin Metcalf testified that he saw Metcalf and his brother, Hunter, warming up on the day of the stabbing. He said he did not previously know Karmelo Anthony.

He said he saw Anthony walk up.

"He dabbed somebody up, I believe it was Eddie?" he said.

"It was nice at first, and things started heating up from there," he said. "Austin was basically telling him he can't be under the tent."

He said he heard Anthony say, "Touch me and see what happens," and that Austin stepped toward him.

He testified that Anthony had a hand in his backpack, which he found unusual and concerning.

"The vein in his (Anthony's) arm was visible like he was grabbing something," he said.

He said Anthony told Austin Metcalf not to touch him.

"Austin went and touched him on the shoulder, kind of moving him," the witness said, adding that Anthony then stabbed him.

"I was in disbelief," he said. "... Austin was a bigger guy, and he had tried to be nice about it."

He said Anthony was "not cooperating, not listening" and that Austin Metcalf did not seem to want to fight.

He said Austin used two hands when he touched Anthony.

Prosecutors asked whether it seemed aggressive.

"Not aggressive like it would hurt him," the witness said. "He was trying to move him."

He said it was not self-defense and that Karmelo Anthony murdered Austin Metcalf.

He estimated that roughly 12 girls and a few boys – "maybe two to five" – were under the tent at the time.

A recent Frisco Liberty High School graduate who competed in track and discus said her team's tent was about 5½ feet from Memorial High School's tent, and it had been raining off and on throughout the day. 

She said she heard commotion coming from the Memorial tent, describing it as "more so people wanting a certain person to leave, that person refusing to go." 

She heard Karmelo Anthony say: "If you wanted me to move, you'd have to move me." 

She said Austin Metcalf didn't seem to want to fight. 

After the stabbing, she said, "I just heard his brother trying to find help for him." 

She said she feels some of the news coverage has been unfair and that it has taken a racial angle. She said she doesn't think the case has anything to do with race and does not think it was self-defense. 

Another witness, a 17‑year‑old Frisco Memorial High School student who plays football and competes in track, said his mother and sister were at the meet. His sister is on the track team, and his mother worked concessions.

He said that when he arrived at the team tent, he was putting on his shorts and saw Austin Metcalf and Karmelo Anthony.

"Austin was asking him who are you because no one really knew who he was," the witness said. "He was trying to provoke Austin to touch him."

"He (Karmelo Anthony) was like 'touch me, touch me' and see what happens," he said.

"Austin told him I'm not going to fight you at a track meet," he said. "That's exactly his words."

He said Austin Metcalf just touched him on the shoulder. He said he then heard Austin say, "He stabbed me," and saw Karmelo Anthony run away.

He said he believes Karmelo Anthony provoked him, noting the conversation between Karmelo Anthony and Austin Metcalf was short, less than 5 minutes, and that Austin Metcalf never held on to Karmelo Anthony or anything like that.

"Stuff like this never happened – not at a track meet, not in Frisco," he said. "... Austin was my team captain in football and told me he believed in me. It felt like I lost that one extra person who believed in me and pushed me to be great."

The 17-year-old witness said he had a really hard time with the loss.

"It shook my sister worse than it shook me," he said.

A 16‑year‑old witness – a wide receiver who also runs hurdles and the 400 in track – said the day felt completely normal before the stabbing. He recalled "nothing unusual going on that day" and noted that the rain "was not bad prior to the stabbing."

What first caught his attention was an unfamiliar athlete (later identified as Karmelo Anthony) stepping directly into their team space.

"He walked up and stood in our tent," the witness said.

The witness immediately questioned why someone from another school would be there, saying, "It's kind of weird when other schools come and stand under our tent."

According to him, Austin Metcalf confronted Karmelo Anthony right away: "Austin asked him why he's in the tent." 

But the situation didn't resolve. 

"Austin asked him multiple times to leave our tent, and he proceeded not to," the teen witness said. "He did state multiple times that he had something in his bag." 

The witness said Austin Metcalf grew visibly irritated, explaining that "Austin seemed frustrated" and that "Austin just wanted him out of there."

Then everything escalated in an instant. 

He said Karmelo Anthony nudged Austin Metcalf and then stabbed him. Chaos followed. He recalled that "everyone started freaking out." 

Austin Metcalf, in shock, kept repeating: "I got stabbed." 

The witness also said Hunter Metcalf was present throughout the entire incident and emphasized that "no one saw this coming."

As for Anthony's exit from the tent, the witness described it as strangely calm: "It was really odd." He added, "I think he (Karmelo Anthony) was just trying to get away." 

He said he believed the incident was not self‑defense, saying Karmelo Anthony provoked the stabbing.

On cross-examination, defense attorney Toby Shook asked the witness to describe the Metcalf and Anthony's movements leading up to the stabbing.

The witness said Anthony was seated with his backpack in his lap and his hand inside. Metcalf approached Anthony, and then pushed him by placing his both of hands on Anthony's shoulders. 

Anthony then pulled the knife out of his backpack and pushed Metcalf back while stabbing him in the chest, the witness said.

The witness then recounted what happened after the stabbing.

"Austin fell down the bleachers onto his back and he got up," he said. "He lifted up his shirt where his chest was all bloody and he said, "I think I got stabbed.'"

The prosecutor then asked about Metcalf's shove of Anthony.

"I wouldn't say it was a light shove or a hard shove, I would say it was more of an in-between," the witness said.

The witness also said that Austin Metcalf's brother Hunter was not involved. In the defense's opening statement, attorney Mike Howard said that both Metcalfs confronted Anthony and that Anthony "made a split-second" decision out of fear. 

After a lunch break, the prosecution called a Memorial High School track athlete to the stand who witnessed the fatal encounter between his teammate Austin Metcalf and Karmelo Anthony. The judge prohibited the media from identifying the witness.

The witness said that by the time he arrived, Anthony was already under the Memorial High School tent in the bleachers at Kuykendall Stadium. The witness recounted that he and other Memorial athletes under the tent asked Anthony to leave multiple times. 

At first it was not aggressive, he said, but then tensions escalated. 

"I remember Karmelo refusing to leave and Austin saying 'You need to leave,' and Karmelo saying 'Touch me and find out,'" the witness said.

The witness also denied that anyone was ganging up on Anthony, and that Anthony was the one provoking the situation. The defense is arguing that Anthony acted in self defense. 

"Austin leans in to push him and Karmelo stabs him," the witness said. "Karmelo had his hands inside a backpack and we thought it was bluff."

He said he and others didn't believe Anthony would do anything because they live in a safe community.

Next, the prosecution played the body camera footage, showing paramedics using CPR to try and save Metcalf's life.

Metcalf is seen in his athletic wear, lying on the ground and unresponsive.

In the video, students can be heard wailing.

As the video played, Metcalf's mother and father were wrapped in the arms of family members as they both broke down in tears.

Anthony watched the video intently along with the jurors. 

A second officer was called to the stand, Frisco Police Officer Jacob Shalz. He also responded to the scene of the fatal stabbing of Metcalf and found the knife allegedly used in the crime.

"Approximately three to four rows up above the crime scene," Shalz responded when asked where he found the weapon.

Shalz also found Anthony's backpack. He shared that he protected the evidence and covered it up due to the rain.

The jury was then shown a photo of the knife, which appears to be a 5-inch folding knife with blood on it as it lay on the ground in the bleachers of the stadium. A photo of Anthony's backpack, open, was shown. Both items have been entered into evidence by the prosecution. 

The next witness called by the prosecution on Friday was Frisco Police Officer Eduardo Cortez, a school resource officer and reportedly the first officer to make contact with Anthony. 

Cortez said he received a call concerning the stabbing as he was working inside a nearby school. When he arrived at the scene, he saw the crowd under the Memorial track tent and saw Anthony.

"I had the suspect raise his hands in the air, I gave him instructions," Cortez testified. "I patted him down for any weapons."

Cortez said, "I advised that I had the alleged suspect detained in handcuffs."

Then he told the jury that Anthony responded, "I'm not alleged, I did it." 

The prosecution then asked Cortez if Anthony said anything else.

"When we placed him in the squad car, he asked if he would be OK," Cortez said.

He was asked if Anthony had any noticeable injuries.

"There was a little blood on his left middle finger," Cortez testified.

Prosecutors asked the officer about the policy on whether weapons are allowed on school property. "They are prohibited," Cortez replied. 

Then, the prosecution had a four-minute body camera video played of when Cortez encountered Anthony, placed him in handcuffs and sat him down before searching his person.

In the video, Anthony can be heard crying and saying as the officer walks him to the car, "I told him not to put his hands on me." He is then put into a patrol car and gives the officer his name and spelling. 

During cross-examination, the defense asked Cortez, "When you go back to the car and open the door, do you remember him crying once you and the officer are in the squad car?"

"Did I see tears coming down his face? I can't testify to that, because I didn't see his face. My description was based on the tone of his voice," Cortez replied.

The defense asked questions concerning Anthony's compliance with officers: 

• "He's not resisting?"
• "Not struggling?"
• "Not continuing to run?"

Cortez answered "no" to all of them. 

As the second day of testimony in the murder trial of Karmelo Anthony began on Friday, the prosecution wasted no time in calling its first witness, a firefighter with the Frisco Fire Department.

Neal Adams said his crew responded to Kuykendall Stadium after being notified of the stabbing. He shared graphic details of finding the victim, Metcalf, as the prosecution showed photos of the scene.

Adams said Metcalf's "pupils were fixed, dilated… He was gray, no respirations, he did not have a pulse."

During Adams' testimony, Metcalf's dad put his head in his own lap as Metcalf's mother wiped away tears.

Through the first full day of court in the murder trial of 19-year-old Karmelo Anthony, jurors heard emotional testimony from eyewitnesses, including a coach and athletic trainer.

Anthony pleaded not guilty to the murder of Austin Metcalf before opening statements. 

During opening statements, the prosecution said Anthony's actions had nothing to do with self-defense when he allegedly "plunged" a knife into the chest of Metcalf. And called the act "unprovoked" and "senseless." 

While the defense worked to humanize Anthony, describing his character and saying he acted out of fear.

Jurors watched both the original and enhanced surveillance video of the incident.

A video analysis expert testified about how it appears that a confrontation is taking place. However, he acknowledged the video does not appear to capture the actual stabbing. 

Jurors also heard from Memorial High School head track coach Rob Starr. Fighting back tears, he described rushing to Metcalf after the stabbing and the condition he found him in.

As the court resumes on Friday, jurors are expected to hear more testimony from witnesses.

Read more.

Next, the prosecution called Joshua Rebmann, the Liberty Defensive coordinator, to the stand.

Rebmann was at the meet and said, "All of a sudden, there was just panic and scatter." 

He said that he saw Austin Metcalf, got him on the ground, put pressure on the wound and asked a coach to call 911. 

"At the time, it was a pretty good-sized wound in his abdomen," said Rebmann. "I was trying to push his brother to the side." 

He testified that it felt like 10 minutes had gone by before paramedics arrived, and he knew Metcalf was gone. 

Rebmann said he talked to detectives and went back to the high school to talk with other coaches, adding that he couldn't believe what happened.

The prosecution then played the 911 call as the Metcalf family wiped away tears.

The next witness, Vincent Hooper, is currently the head football coach at Heritage High School and was the head track coach up until this year.

Hooper was also asked about the tents and said it's not unusual for students to walk to other tents to say hi.

He too testified that he saw kids scattering and was told there had been a stabbing. He said Memorial High School athletic trainer Tiffany Whiteaker handed Anthony to him and said, "Don't let him leave."

Hooper said he put his arm around Anthony's shoulder, they walked around the track and he asked Anthony what he did.

"He said, 'He put his hands on me. I stabbed him," said Hooper.

With tears on the witness stand, Hooper said he told Anthony that if Metcalf died, it would change the rest of his life. At that point, Hooper said that Anthony started crying and he had to comfort him. Hooper said Anthony's emotions seemed genuine and he handed him off to the Centennial High School coach.

The defense also questioned Hooper, who again said he felt Anthony's emotions were genuine, saying that Anthony didn't try to run from him.

"I don't think he thought he stabbed him in the spot he stabbed him in," said Hooper.

Memorial High School athletic trainer Tiffany Whiteaker said on the witness stand on Thursday afternoon that when screaming started around 10 a.m. on April 2, 2025, she moved on to the track, looking to see what was going on.

Whiteaker said she asked a student what was going on, and the student indicated that Anthony stabbed Metcalf and tossed a knife.

Whiteaker said she stopped Anthony and had a brief interaction, then went to Metcalf, although at the time she didn't know it was him. The student trainer thought he was having a seizure.

Whiteaker said she went to his head and helped with evaluating him and a coach said he could feel a pulse.

Whiteaker said she noticed Metcalf was blue. She started rescue breaths, and another coach did chest compressions until the AED arrived; however, that didn't help. They continued CPR until paramedics arrived.

"I'm kind of in autopilot," Whiteaker said.

They stopped treatment when paramedics arrived.

The prosecution passed the witness to the defense. During questioning by the defense, Whiteaker said that when she saw Anthony, he was running and people were chasing him.  

Tiffany Whitaker, an athletic trainer at Memorial High School, is the next witness to take the stand.

She said she spends a lot of time with athletes and knew Austin and Hunter Metcalf. She referred to the tents at track meets as "locker rooms," stressing the importance of staying in your tent. Whitaker said it is normal to say hello to someone in another tent, but not to "plant yourself there."

Memorial High School head track coach Rob Starr told the prosecution it was not normal for students to walk around during downtime and talk to other students while at track meets.

Starr said, although it happens, his policy is "that's not acceptable," and believes other Frisco coaches feel the same way.

Questioned about kicking Austin Metcalf off the track team, Starr said he wanted ot teach him a lesson.

Memorial head track coach rob Starr said that Memorial was the host school for the track meet on April 2, 2025. He added that the team would be down certain coaches because of the responsibilities that come with being the host school

Due to that, he enlisted some of the throwers, who are typically the leaders, including Austin and Hunter Metcalf, to help, saying the throwers are usually in charge of setting up the tents. 

Starr said he sent a text to Austin Metcalf that day that he needed to step up and help.

Starr said that heading into the district meet, he was a little upset with Austin Metcalf. At a previous meet, he said Austin Metcalf threw and then left early to go fishing. He actually kicked Austin Metcalf off the team, but they talked and he let him back on.   

The coach said there was never a rain delay that day and Memorial athletes were mostly under the tent, though some other schools' athletes went back to their buses.

Starr had to leave to get a crockpot from a coach who was waiting in concessions for him around 10 a.m. He heard a commotion, so he started hustling to see what happened, dropping the crockpot and starting to jog. Starr said he jumped a fence and tried to get back to the tent.

Coach testifies he found Metcalf with "a hole in his chest"

"I'm thinking, 'Man there are no coaches by my tent,'"  Starr said on the witness stand. "I come over there... and my memory is kind of shaky, but what I do see is Austin on the ground and his face is purple, and he has a hole in his chest." 

Holding back tears, Starr said everyone was screaming his name. He said Hunter said, "Coach Starr, do something!" 

The coach testified that he was told Karmelo Anthony "did it." He hopped over the gate and approached Anthony, and stopped him.

"It's surreal, and it wasn't violent", said Starr. "He said, 'He put his hands on me,' and he was hysterical." 

Starr says he (Starr) got really upset, walked away and threw his hat on the ground. He then went over to Austin Metcalf and put his hand on his leg as the coaches were praying.

Starr said he then went to Hunter Metcalf, who was hysterical, and he prayed with him, adding that at that point it rained hard for a minute and he knew Austin Metcalf was gone. 

Austin Metcalf's father, Jeff Metcalf, sat in the courtroom, wiping away tears. 

The prosecution passed the witness to the defense.

The state has called Rob Starr, the 41-year-old head track coach at Frisco Memorial High School, to the witness stand.

Starr is also the position coach for the football team at Memorial and knew both Austin and Hunter Metcalf and their parents: Austin Metcalf for about 1 year, and Hunter Metcalf for about 2 years.

Starr said tents at track meets are a big deal, "a million-dollar industry," and help keep everybody separated, adding that a coach usually hangs out by the tent for "proximity control."

The coach also said that "weapons are not allowed in any shape, form or fashion." 

Starr said that students have to sign a code of conduct, which includes that they will not bring weapons.

"You wouldn't expect that at a Frisco ISD track meet," said Starr.

After a noon lunch break on Thursday, the court resumed with the prosecution continuing to show the jury both the unaltered and enhanced videos of the moments leading up to the stabbing. But according to CBS News Texas reporter JD Miles, so far, the magnified videos, which have never been viewed by the public, still do not produce a clear visual of what happened under the tent in the bleachers of the stadium where Metcalf was fatally stabbed.

Prosecution then passed the witness to the defense for cross-examination.

Defense attorney Toby Shook commented on how unclear the video of the incident was, asking the question, "You really can't tell what people are doing under the tent, can you?" concerning whether you can tell what led up to the stabbing.

The witness, Porter, answered, "No, sir."

"There's really no way to determine when an argument starts or stops, can you?" Shook asked.

"No, sir," said Porter. 

"You wouldn't be able to tell the jury there's an argument?" Shook asked. 

"No, sir," said Porter. 

Following opening statements, the prosecution called its first witness, Mark Porter, a video analyst for the Tarrant County District Attorney's Office.

Porter shared his background and knowledge of video enhancement, including the surveillance video that captured the stabbing.

The prosecution then entered the enhanced surveillance video as evidence in the case and showed jurors the first frame – a wide shot of the stadium, showing both Austin and Hunter Metcalf walking into the stadium and Anthony being escorted out in handcuffs by police. 

Jurors then began watching the surveillance video frame by frame, leading up to the stabbing, while Porter testifies about the analytics of his work.

The jurors saw the moment students gathered under a yellow tent with the Memorial High logo. And at a 10 a.m. timestamp, there's some pushing among individuals under the back of the tent, but it's difficult to tell what's happened. Then, the video shows all those under the tent scatter quickly. The video then shows Anthony running out of the stadium less than a minute after the stabbing. 

Prosecutors are painstakingly going over the video, showing the jury only a few seconds of it at a time. 

Video from another camera shows Anthony being chased while running near the edge of the stadium, and he put his hands up in the air before two uniformed police officers handcuffed him. 

Lead defense attorney Mike Howard began by stating there was a lot of noise around the case that has taken away from the person that Anthony is – a son, a brother, the oldest of four, a friend and an "A" student.

Howard described Anthony's success as a student-athlete, all while being diagnosed with epilepsy.

He then shared how Anthony ended up in the section where he allegedly got into an altercation with Metcalf.

Howard said Anthony walked around to get out of the rain and recognized someone near the Memorial tent, where he entered and was told to leave by Metcalf.

He said Anthony, who is 5'8" and about 130 pounds, was confronted by both Austin and Hunter Metcalf, who are 6'1" and about 215 pounds.

Howard said the jurors will hear two different accounts of how the confrontation happened but wanted to make it clear Metcalf made "the first physical contact, in spite of the warning" to not touch Anthony.

He said Anthony "made a split-second" decision out of fear. 

Collin County Judge John Roach Jr. is presiding over the case and, during his introduction, announced that both the defense and the prosecution would have 20 minutes each for opening statements.

The jury, made up of 11 women and 7 men, was seated as Anthony's parents and Metcalf's parents sat on opposite sides of the courtroom. Anthony looked on, dressed in a suit and tie. 

The prosecution opened first with Collin County First Assistant District Attorney Bill Wirskye, who wasted no time and dived right into the tragedy. He told the jury that Anthony plunged a knife and "buried it into the heart of another young man, causing his death and then ran away."

Wirskye said the case "has nothing to do with race" or anything to do with Anthony's claims that he was acting in self-defense. He called the killing of Metcalf unjustified and senseless.

Wirskye said the video will tell the story of Metcalf's killing and told the jury they'll hear from numerous witnesses who were there. 

Twelve jurors and six alternates have been seated in the Karmelo Anthony murder trial after two days of intense jury selection.

The pool of 589 prospective jurors was narrowed amid questions about media bias, race, and a controversial immigration question that some jurors refused to answer.

The prosecution dismissed all qualified Black jurors, arguing the case was race-neutral, a move the defense challenged and the judge ultimately allowed.

Prospective jurors also expressed concerns about fairness, with some admitting that media coverage and the defendant's background could influence their judgment.

Opening statements are scheduled for Thursday morning as the trial officially moves forward.

Read more here.

Jury selection began on Monday, June 1.

Prospective jurors arrived at the Collin County Courthouse in McKinney amid very tight security. Outside, a cluster of demonstrators held signs and waved flags on the perimeter of courthouse property. Some of the demonstrators included a small group of about a half a dozen white nationalists. Another group expressed support for Anthony.

Judge John Roach was expected to gather the prospective jurors in the Central Jury Room on the first floor. Media and members of the public were allowed inside an adjacent courtroom to watch the proceedings on a live video feed. That courtroom also saw supporters for both Anthony and Metcalf's families observing, along with social media influencers.

Read more here.

Both the families of Austin Metcalf and Karmelo Anthony said they faced unrelenting harassment that put their safety and the safety of their neighbors at risk. 

Frisco police responded multiple times to prank 911 "swatting" calls at the Metcalf family's homes. Austin Metcalf's father said the repeated incidents have created fear that someone could be seriously injured.

Both families say personal information has been shared publicly online, leading to continued harassment and workplace impacts, with both fathers reportedly needing to take leave from their jobs.

A flyer advertising a protest in Frisco, widely circulated on social media, was allegedly organized by Jake Lang, who was charged with attacking police at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6. He was pardoned last year by President Donald Trump. The flyer used a picture of Metcalf with the banner reading "Protect White Americans."

Ahead of the trial, Judge John Roach imposed strict courtroom rules due to intense public and media interest in the case. 

The order bans live streaming, audio and video recording, and cell phones in the courtroom. Attendees are prohibited from disrupting proceedings, while protests are restricted to designated areas outside the courthouse. 

All visitors must pass through security screening, and the rules will be enforced by the Collin County Sheriff's Office.  

When Anthony was initially taken into custody and charged with murder, his bond was set at $1 million.

A Collin County judge later reduced Anthony's bond from $1 million to $250,000 following a hearing on April 14, 2025. 

Anthony was ordered to remain under house arrest at his parents' home and wear an ankle monitor if released on bond. Defense attorneys argued Anthony had no criminal history and posed a low flight risk, while prosecutors sought to keep the original bond amount in place.

On June 24, 2025, Collin County District Attorney Greg Willis announced that a grand jury indicted Anthony for murder, a first-degree felony with a possible sentence of 5-99 years or life in prison.    

Two weeks after the indictment, Collin County District Judge John Roach scheduled Anthony's murder trial to begin on June 1, 2026.  

On April 2, 2025, during a district track meet at Kuykendall Stadium in Frisco, Metcalf and Anthony, both 17 years old at the time, were involved in a confrontation under a tent in the bleachers. Just before 10 a.m., Anthony stabbed Metcalf during the altercation. Metcalf was taken to a hospital, where he died.

Witnesses said Metcalf and Anthony attended different schools and did not know each other. 

An April 4, 2025, police report revealed that Anthony admitted to the stabbing, claiming it was in self-defense. Witnesses reported that Anthony approached Metcalf and others sitting under the tent, and after a tense exchange where Metcalf told Anthony to leave and allegedly threatened him, Anthony pulled out a knife and stabbed Metcalf in the chest before fleeing. More than 30 students and coaches are listed as witnesses to Austin Metcalf's violent death, according to the Frisco police report.

When authorities arrived, Metcalf was unresponsive, and CPR was being performed by athletic trainers.