{"id":3763,"date":"2026-06-07T04:01:18","date_gmt":"2026-06-07T04:01:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/houstonmovingjournal.com\/?p=3763"},"modified":"2026-06-07T04:01:18","modified_gmt":"2026-06-07T04:01:18","slug":"karmelo-anthony-trial-state-rests-after-jurors-hear-testimony-on-a-saturday","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/houstonmovingjournal.com\/?p=3763","title":{"rendered":"Karmelo Anthony Trial: State rests after jurors hear testimony on a Saturday"},"content":{"rendered":"

MCKINNEY, Texas<\/strong> – <\/span>Testimony resumed on Saturday in the Karmelo Anthony trial for the fatal stabbing of another student at a high school track meet.<\/p>

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Anthony, 19, faces a murder charge for the death of 17-year-old Austin Metcalf. Police said Anthony and Metcalf got into an argument over seating in the stadium stands on April 2, 2025, which escalated when Anthony stabbed Metcalf in the chest with a pocketknife.<\/p>

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The trial is expected to last approximately two weeks. If convicted, Anthony faces a maximum sentence of five to 99 years or life in prison.<\/p>

LIVE Updates<\/strong><\/h2>

5:30 p.m. Done for the day<\/h3>

Testimony is done for the day. The trial will resume at 9 a.m. on Monday.<\/p>

4:20 p.m. Memorial student testifies<\/h3>

The defense called a 17-year-old Memorial High School student to the stand. He said he did not want to be there and had only met with the defense lawyers for about two minutes. He was also interviewed by a detective after the stabbing. In that interview, he told police that his teammate, Eddie Parra, had called Anthony over to the tent. He said he saw them shake hands. Anthony sat down, and then the two talked.<\/p>

The teen said it was Metcalf’s brother, Hunter, who first called attention to Anthony. That’s different than what other witnesses have stated.<\/p>

4 p.m. Centennial student testifies<\/h3>

The second witness for the defense was 18-year-old Jeremiah Smith, who recently graduated from Centennial High School. He played football and track and said he considered Anthony a friend.<\/p>

Smith testified that the culture is different between football and track. At track meets, there are more people and athletes are free to walk around. He said sometimes, during downtime, people find their friends. He testified that he’d spent time under other teams’ tents. He also said he’s been under the Memorial tent. He’s never had a problem.<\/p>

Prosecutors asked him during cross-examination if he would leave when another team asked him to. He said he would and admitted there was no reason to carry a knife to a track meet.<\/p>

3:15 p.m. Defense calls Anthony’s track coach<\/h3>

The first witness for the defense was Adam Linwood, the Centennial High School football and track coach. He said for this particular track meet, he didn’t have a lot of kids on the morning bus. This was an event that happened during the school day, and he didn’t have “enough manpower” to put up the Centennial tent.<\/p>

Defense attorney Mike Howard asked him if he was aware of any policy or expectation that prohibited students from sitting under other team tents. The coach said no and testified that his athletes would mingle with their friends from other schools during their downtime. He called the track culture “organized chaos” and said coaches are often pulled in different directions.\u00a0<\/p>

He told jurors he wouldn’t kick another school’s student out of his tent. He also acknowledged that other coaches may feel differently, and said since the stabbing, Centennial now has a policy that students need to stay under their own tent.<\/p>

Linwood talked about Anthony earning the 2024 “Team Captain Award” after a vote by fellow players.<\/p>

Under cross-examination, Linwood said he hadn’t spoken to Anthony since the stabbing. He admitted that if a student was asked to leave a tent, he would expect them to do so.<\/p>

“Is there any reason why someone should have a knife at a track meet?” prosecutors asked him.<\/p>

“No, sir,” the coach replied.<\/p>

3 p.m. State rests<\/h3>

The state rested its case after calling just 21 witnesses. That’s short of the 35 originally expected to be called to the stand.<\/p>

\u00a0The defense moved for a direct verdict, claiming the state had not proven its case. The judge denied that motion.<\/p>

2 p.m. Medical examiner testifies<\/h3>

Dr. Elizabeth Ventura, the Collin County chief medical examiner, took the stand. Metcalf’s parents and other members of the Metcalf family chose to leave the courtroom.<\/p>

Ventura said Metcalf had a stab wound on the left side of his chest. The knife perforated the bone at the center of his chest, perforated the sack that surrounds his heart, and penetrated the right ventricle of his heart. She noted the stab wound was 2 inches in length and was “gaping.” It was not survivable, she said.<\/p>

Metcalf’s official cause of death was a stab wound to the chest. His manner of death was ruled a homicide.<\/p>

Four autopsy photos were shown to jurors.<\/p>

1 p.m. Teen’s testimony continues<\/h3>

Defense attorney Toby Shook began cross-examining 18-year-old Eddie Parra after the lunch break. He was the teen that Anthony knew sitting under the Memorial track tent.<\/p>

When asked about their friendship, Parra said, “Every now and then we got together.”\u00a0<\/p>

The defense showed jurors pictures of the two hanging out and pointed out that they got together at least three times over a three-week period. Parra agreed but said he only hung out with Anthony when Anthony’s girlfriend was around. He said Anthony’s girlfriend was a common friend.<\/p>

Shook asked Parra why he didn’t speak up when his teammates were asking Anthony what he was doing under the tent.<\/p>

“I didn’t feel the need to,” he said.<\/p>

11:45 p.m. Lunch break<\/h3>

Jurors were given a 1-hour break for lunch.<\/p>

11:15 a.m. Teen who knew Anthony testifies<\/h3>

The next teenager to take the stand was 18-year-old Eddie Parra, the teen who knew Anthony and greeted him as he entered the Memorial tent. He said he wouldn’t call Anthony a friend but “someone I knew.”<\/p>

“You know you are the common denominator between Karmelo Anthony and Memorial?” the prosecutor asked.<\/p>

“Yes, sir,” he said.<\/p>

“Did you think it was weird that Karmelo Anthony was in your tent?” the attorney asked.<\/p>

“Yeah,” Parra said.<\/p>

He testified that he didn’t talk to Anthony for long but never asked him to leave. He recalled Metcalf getting defensive over an outsider being in their tent. He said Metcalf was “always leading\u2026 always protecting us.”<\/p>

Parra said Anthony was provoking Metcalf. He recalled him saying something like, “Touch me. You’re going to have to move me.” He also saw Anthony put his hand in his bag.<\/p>

He broke down on the witness stand while testifying about seeing the stabbing. He admitted to being mad at Anthony because of what happened.<\/p>

Parra agreed with all the other student athletes who have said this case is not about race. He also said Anthony had no reason to stab Metcalf and no cause for self-defense.<\/p>

10:30 a.m. Recess<\/h3>

The trial took a 20-minute break.<\/p>

10 a.m. 16-year-old student athlete<\/h3>

A 16-year-old student athlete who knew Metcalf from middle school took the stand next. He said he was sitting under the Memorial tent that day and scrolling on TikTok. He recalled Anthony sitting down next to him and saying something like, “Crazy weather, huh?”<\/p>

He said another teammate noticed Anthony and asked him, “Who’s this guy?” The teen said Anthony replied, “I’m a nobody.” The teammate replied, “If you’re a nobody, then get out of our tent.” The teen testified that Anthony responded, “F— y’all.”<\/p>

The teen testified that Anthony repeated, “F— y’all. I’m not going to leave. Y’all are a bunch of pu–ies. Y’all not going to do anything.” He said Anthony also threatened, “Touch me and see what happens.” Metcalf told him, “I’m not going to fight you.”<\/p>

This teen, who said it was his first track meet, testified that Metcalf didn’t do anything to get stabbed in the chest.<\/p>

Under cross-examination, he admitted that Anthony wasn’t yelling or anything like that.<\/p>

9:40 a.m. 15-year-old student athlete<\/h3>

The next teen to take the stand was a 15-year-old from Memorial who was also on the football and track team. He said that Metcalf was “like a big brother” to him.<\/p>

“We all told him to leave,” the teen said, referring to Anthony.<\/p>

He testified that Anthony got “irritated” and “tried to provoke us” as he was asked to leave.\u00a0<\/p>

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He remembered seeing Metcalf falling down the bleachers with blood on his chest.\u00a0<\/p>

He also said that when the team returned to the bus, everyone was crying.<\/p>

“We couldn’t believe what happened,” he said.<\/p>

“Did Karmelo Anthony act in self-defense or commit murder?” the prosecutor asked.<\/p>

“He committed murder,” the teen said.<\/p>

9:10 a.m. Student testimony continues<\/h3>

The first witness to take the stand on Saturday morning was a 17-year-old Memorial student athlete. He was initially under the Memorial tent but was walking down the bleachers when the deadly encounter happened.<\/p>

“You know you’re not supposed to bring weapons to a track meet, correct?” the attorney asked.<\/p>

“Yes, sir,” the student replied. “You don’t expect to see someone get stabbed at a track meet or an event.”<\/p>

He testified that he didn’t see anyone crowding Anthony. He didn’t expect a fight, and he didn’t see any reason for Anthony to stab Metcalf. He said the stabbing was not self-defense.<\/p>

“No, sir. That’s lethal force against non-legal,” he said.<\/p>

Under cross-examination, defense attorney Toby Shook pointed out that the teen told a police detective that he remembered seeing Anthony under the team’s tent before. The teen clarified that it was about a year prior and that he saw Anthony “pass by.”\u00a0<\/p>

He admitted to the defense that Metcalf could look intimidating because of his size.<\/p>

9 a.m. Trial resumes<\/h3>

Judge John Roach is holding court on a Saturday to help move the trial along. At the end of the day on Friday, he said “the lawyers are being fantastic” and “moving along great.” Prosecutors planned to call about 35 witnesses in total.<\/p>

Day 2 Recap: Teenage witnesses testify after jurors watch arrest, bodycam video<\/h2>

Eyewitness Testimony:<\/p>

The state presented testimony from first responders, law enforcement, and several teenage eyewitnesses. A responding paramedic testified that Metcalf never regained consciousness, having been found with no pulse. School Resource Officer Eduardo Cortez recounted arresting Anthony, who was caught on body camera video stating, “I’m not alleged, I did it. He put his hands on me.”<\/i> Law enforcement later recovered the weapon\u2014a blood-stained 3.5-inch folding knife\u2014and Anthony\u2019s backpack from the stadium bleachers.<\/p>

Multiple student witnesses from Memorial High School testified that Anthony was the aggressor. They stated that Anthony entered their team tent to escape the rain and refused multiple requests to leave. The situation quickly escalated as Anthony verbally provoked Metcalf, stating, “Touch me and see what happens.”<\/i> Witnesses noted Anthony kept his hand hidden inside his backpack, warning that he had something. When Metcalf finally pushed or shoved Anthony’s shoulders, Anthony immediately stood up and stabbed him in the chest.<\/p>

Defense Strategy:<\/p>

The defense focused heavily on a self-defense narrative, using cross-examination to highlight discrepancies between the students’ courtroom testimonies and their initial police statements. The defense established significant physical differences between the two boys, noting that Metcalf outweighed Anthony by 50 to 60 pounds.<\/p>

Crucially, the defense emphasized the physical positioning during the altercation: Anthony was sitting down with his bag on his lap, surrounded by roughly 20 people in a crowded tent, while Metcalf and several teammates stood over him. Trial consultants note this spatial dynamic will be vital for the jury when evaluating the self-defense claim.<\/p>

Day 1 Recap: Jurors watch video, listen to 911 calls<\/h2>

Opening Statements:<\/p>

The prosecution and defense laid out two completely opposing narratives to the jury during their 20-minute opening statements. Collin County District Attorney Bill Wirskye called the incident a “provoked, unjustified murder,” arguing that Anthony entered a closed team tent uninvited, provoked a confrontation, and launched a “sneak attack” with a hidden knife before fleeing.\u00a0<\/p>

Wirskye explicitly noted that the case is not about race or self-defense. Conversely, defense attorney Mike Howard argued that Anthony acted out of a “split second of fear and chaos.” Howard described Anthony as an honor student working two jobs who remained seated until Metcalf and his twin brother confronted him, maintaining that Anthony used the knife strictly in self-defense because he felt cornered by a group turning on him.<\/p>

Grainy Stadium Video:<\/p>

Jurors viewed surveillance footage provided by Frisco ISD from multiple stadium angles. The video showed a figure identified as Anthony entering the Memorial High School team tent, followed by a brief scuffle and Anthony fleeing the scene as coaches and students gave chase.\u00a0<\/p>

Memorial High School track coach Robert Starr testified to the sacred nature of team tents, comparing them to a sports bench where you just do not go in uninvited. He became visibly emotional on the stand while describing the immediate aftermath of the stabbing.<\/p>

Chaotic 911 Audio:<\/p>

The afternoon session turned deeply emotional as the prosecution played a chaotic 911 call from the scene. In the audio, Liberty High School football coach Joshua Rebmann, a military veteran who administered CPR, could be heard shouting, “Stay with me, Austin.”\u00a0<\/p>

The state capped the day with a powerful visual display, presenting the physical, blood-stained jacket that Rebmann used to apply pressure to Metcalf’s wound. Legal observers noted that displaying the bloody jacket right before adjournment left a staggering, lasting impression on the jury.<\/p>

Jury Selection Recap: No Black jurors selected; defense raises racial challenge<\/h2>

Jury Selected:<\/p>

A 12-person jury with six alternates was finalized Wednesday afternoon in a Collin County courtroom. The selection process resulted in a panel of 11 women and seven men. There are no Black jurors.<\/p>

The final phase of jury selection grew tense when defense attorneys lodged a formal objection during the second round of strikes. The defense argued that the state improperly struck down three potential Black female jurors who were “similarly situated” to a white female juror allowed to remain on the panel.<\/p>

Prosecutors strongly denied that race played a factor. Assistant District Attorney Dewey Mitchell clarified that all three women were struck because they listed their occupations as educators. Because the fatal incident occurred at a school-sponsored athletic function involving school-aged children, prosecutors seemingly did not want traditional educators on the panel.<\/p>

State District Judge John Roach Jr. ultimately sided with the prosecution, allowing the strikes to stand. While one educator was successfully seated on the 12-person jury, she is an esthetician at a trade school and does not work with high school-aged children.<\/p>

Self-Defense vs. Guilt:<\/p>

During jury selection, both sides were given one hour and 45 minutes to question potential jurors.<\/p>

Assistant DA Mitchell pressed the pool on whether they could listen to the evidence with an open mind and follow the law to render a verdict, even when dealing with a young defendant. The questioning took an unusual turn when Mitchell asked if race could affect anyone’s ability to determine guilt. After a handful of people admitted it could, Mitchell noted that in his entire career, he had never had to have such an explicit conversation about race with a jury panel. One Frisco ISD educator in the pool was excused after stating the case “hit too close to home.”<\/p>

Howard, the defense attorney, immediately signaled that the entire trial would pivot on whether Anthony had the legal right to defend himself. Howard, who referred to his client by his nickname “Melo,” questioned the pool on whether they would penalize Anthony if he exercised his right not to testify. He also gauged their feelings on prison sentencing, noting the minimum threshold for a murder conviction is five years.<\/p>

Continued Coverage<\/h2>