A Collin County jury has found 19-year-old Karmelo Anthony guilty of murder in the fatal stabbing of 17-year-old Austin Metcalf during a Frisco ISD track meet last year. The verdict was delivered on Tuesday after several hours of deliberation, marking the end of the guilt-innocence phase of the high-profile case.

The incident occurred on April 2, 2025, at a track meet in Frisco, where Anthony, then a student at Frisco Centennial High School, stabbed Austin Metcalf, a student-athlete from Frisco Memorial High School. Prosecutors argued that Anthony intentionally and knowingly caused Metcalf’s death, while the defense maintained that he acted in self-defense.

During the trial, the judge allowed the jury to also consider the lesser charge of manslaughter, which carries a punishment range of 2 to 20 years. However, after deliberation, the jury convicted Anthony of the more serious charge of murder. Under Texas law, murder is punishable by 5 to 99 years in prison.

Immediately after the verdict, the case moved into the punishment phase. Karmelo Anthony’s mother, Kala Hayes, took the stand as the first defense witness and made an emotional plea to the jury. “Have mercy on my son,” she said, her voice filled with emotion as she addressed the panel.

The jury is now tasked with deciding Anthony’s sentence. Because he was 17 at the time of the offense and the case did not qualify as capital murder, the death penalty and life without parole were never options. He now faces a minimum of five years in prison, with the possibility of up to 99 years.

The case has drawn significant attention across North Texas, with both families enduring intense public scrutiny throughout the trial. As the jury deliberates on punishment, the courtroom remains tense, with Anthony’s fate now in the hands of the 12 jurors who will determine how many years he will spend behind bars.

The sentencing phase is expected to continue in the coming days as both sides present additional evidence and arguments regarding the appropriate punishment.