The Texas murder case that sparked national conversations about race, self-defense and violence reached its conclusion Tuesday when a Collin County jury sentenced Karmelo Anthony to 35 years in prison for the fatal stabbing of fellow teenager Austin Metcalf during a 2025 high school track meet.

Anthony, now 19, was convicted of murder earlier in the day in the death of Metcalf, 17, who was fatally stabbed during an altercation at Kuykendall Stadium in Frisco, Texas, on April 2, 2025. Jurors deliberated for approximately two-and-a-half hours before determining Anthony’s sentence.

The case drew widespread attention far beyond North Texas, becoming a hot button issue in debates surrounding self-defense, race, school safety and the impact of social media. Although prosecutors maintained the case was solely about a fatal act of violence, public discourse often centered on the racial identities of the two teenagers and competing interpretations of what transpired that day.

Anthony was 17 years old at the time of the stabbing but was tried as an adult under Texas law.

According to prosecutors, the confrontation began during a rain delay at a Frisco ISD track meet after Anthony sought shelter beneath a tent designated for athletes from Memorial High School, where Metcalf was a student. Authorities said the two teens, who attended different schools and had no prior relationship, became involved in a dispute that ended when Anthony allegedly stabbed Metcalf once in the chest.

Metcalf was transported to a local hospital, where he later died from his injuries. Anthony was arrested shortly afterward and charged with murder.

Throughout the trial, prosecutors argued the stabbing was intentional and unjustified. Defense attorneys contended that Anthony acted in self-defense, claiming he feared for his safety during the confrontation. Judge John Roach instructed jurors that they could also consider the lesser charge of manslaughter.

After hearing testimony from students who witnessed the incident, investigators, medical experts and character witnesses, the jury ultimately rejected the defense’s self-defense argument and found Anthony guilty of murder.

During the sentencing phase, prosecutors chose not to call any witnesses. The defense presented a single witness: Anthony’s mother, Kayla Hayes.

“He’s my oldest, he’s my firstborn,” Hayes testified. “He will always be my baby. I love him very much.”

When asked whether her son regretted his actions, Hayes replied, “Yes, he’s very sorry for what he did.”

Anthony faced a punishment range of five to 99 years or life in prison.

Defense attorneys asked jurors to consider whether Anthony acted under “sudden passion,” a legal finding in Texas that can reduce the severity of punishment if a defendant is determined to have acted in an immediate emotional state without time for reflection. The defense argued Anthony reacted in fear during a rapidly escalating encounter and urged jurors to consider what they described as a split-second decision.

Jurors declined to make a sudden-passion finding, leaving the murder conviction intact and paving the way for the 35-year sentence.

Celebrities have already begun speaking out about the case. Cardi B weighed in on X, (f.k.a. Twitter) with the Grammy winner saying she does not believe justice was served.

Following the sentencing, the Frisco Independent School District acknowledged the outcome.

“We respect the judicial process and will continue to support our students with compassion and care,” the district said in a statement. “We know this trial has brought strong emotions and deep grief, and we ask that our community continue to support each other with respect, sensitivity and understanding.”

With the jury’s decision, Anthony, who was 17 at the time of the fatal encounter and 19 when he was sentenced, now faces decades behind bars.