Jury Composition and Venue Debated as Karmelo Anthony Supporters Protest Outside Texas Courthouse

Protests erupted outside the Collin County Courthouse in McKinney, Texas, on June 12–13, 2026, as supporters of 19-year-old Karmelo Anthony demanded a new trial, citing the absence of Black jurors and questioning whether the venue itself prejudiced the outcome in the high-profile stabbing case. The demonstrations, which drew hundreds of activists, civil rights leaders, and concerned citizens, came just days after Anthony’s June 9 conviction and 35-year sentence for the April 2, 2025, murder of 17-year-old Austin Metcalf at a Frisco ISD track meet.

Chanting “Justice for Karmelo” and “No Black Jury, No Fair Trial,” protesters carried signs highlighting the jury’s composition: zero Black members despite a 589-person venire pool. Defense attorneys had raised Batson challenges during jury selection, alleging prosecutors used peremptory strikes to systematically exclude qualified African American candidates on non-racial pretexts such as occupation or perceived bias. The trial judge rejected those challenges, seating a final panel of three racial minorities (Asian and Indian), eight women, and four men. “The exclusion of Black jurors in a case this racially charged undermines the very notion of a jury of one’s peers,” said defense attorney Marcus Ellison at a press conference outside the courthouse.

Supporters also revived calls for a change of venue, arguing that intense pretrial publicity and the case’s racial dynamics made a fair trial impossible in Collin County, a predominantly suburban, conservative area north of Dallas. “This venue was never neutral,” one protester told reporters. “The community here already had opinions before the first witness took the stand.” Prosecutors countered that extensive voir dire and the large jury pool ensured impartiality, with Collin County DA Greg Willis reiterating, “This case has nothing to do with race. The evidence was overwhelming, and the jury followed the law.”

The demonstrations remained largely peaceful, though tensions rose when counter-protesters appeared. Police maintained a visible presence but reported no major incidents. Anthony’s family, present at the protest, expressed renewed hope that appellate courts will examine both the jury selection process and venue issues. Meanwhile, online discourse continues to be flooded with AI-generated content amplifying racial narratives on both sides.

As the appeal moves forward, the protests underscore how the Anthony-Metcalf tragedy has become a flashpoint for broader questions about racial fairness in the criminal justice system, jury diversity, and the challenges of trying high-profile cases in the social media age. The courthouse steps, now a site of ongoing debate, symbolize a nation still wrestling with the verdict’s implications.