Racial Confrontation at Courthouse
Racist Insults and Tensions Erupt During Karmelo Anthony Murder Trial
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Racial slurs and physical threats erupted outside the Collin County Courthouse in McKinney, Texas, this week as the murder trial of Karmelo Anthony got underway The National Desk. Anthony, now 19, is charged with first-degree murder for the April 2, 2025, stabbing death of 17-year-old Austin Metcalf during a high school track meet in Frisco. If convicted, he faces 5 to 99 years — or life — in prison.
Supporters of Anthony were filmed shouting "F*ck you, cracker," "Neanderthal," and threatening to "do some Nat Turner shit" at rallygoers backing the Metcalf family News3LV. The confrontations came as opening statements began inside the courtroom on June 4, 2026, drawing a line of hundreds outside — competing for just 27 public seats.
What Happened at the Track Meet in April 2025
The stabbing occurred on the morning of April 2, 2025, at a district track meet at David Kuykendall Stadium in Frisco, Texas. Anthony, then 17 and a student at Centennial High School, entered a tent reserved for Frisco Memorial High School. Witnesses say he was asked to leave up to 15 times KOMO News.
When Metcalf stepped forward to push Anthony out, Anthony pulled a 5-inch folding knife from his backpack and stabbed Metcalf once in the chest Fox 17. Metcalf died in the arms of his twin brother, Hunter. Anthony was arrested nearby after allegedly trying to discard the knife in the stadium bleachers. He reportedly told officers, "I'm not alleged, I did it," but asked if it counted as self-defense.
Prosecution Says Provocation, Defense Says Self-Defense
Lead prosecutor Bill Wirskye told the jury this case is straightforward. "This is not self-defense," he said. "Unjustified, provoked murder — that's why we're here" TurnTo10. Prosecutors argue Anthony goaded Metcalf into making physical contact and then used a deadly weapon he had brought to the school event.
Defense attorney Mike Howard pushed back hard. "In that split second, Melo has a decision to make," Howard told jurors WWMT. He argued that self-defense is "useless if you wait too late." Texas law does allow people to defend themselves — but not if they provoked the confrontation first. That distinction is the heart of the case.
All-White Jury and Protests Stoke Racial Tensions
The trial drew nearly 600 prospective jurors before a panel of 12 was seated on June 3, 2026 KLEW TV. The final jury contains zero Black members. Prosecutors struck the last three Black candidates during selection, drawing sharp criticism from civil rights groups. Dominique Alexander, president of the Next Generation Action Network, has accused the Anthony family of facing targeted harassment throughout the case.
Outside the courthouse, far-right figure Jake Lang — a January 6 participant — organized a rally for the Metcalf family with "White Lives Matter" signs. Counter-protesters backing Anthony responded with racist slurs. The clash was captured on video and spread rapidly online WACH. Local leaders have warned that out-of-state agitators are inflaming tensions in Frisco, one of the fastest-growing suburbs in the U.S.
Fundraising Gaps and What Comes Next in the Trial
Anthony's supporters have raised more than $600,000 on GiveSendGo for his legal defense as of June 2026 Idaho News. By contrast, a GoFundMe memorial fund for Austin Metcalf raised $176,591 as of April 2025. Anthony graduated high school while under house arrest with a 3.7 GPA and has no prior criminal record.
The trial is expected to last roughly two weeks Bakersfield Now. In the wake of the stabbing, Frisco ISD overhauled its security at athletic events. All major meets now require clear bags, mandatory metal detector screenings, and more school resource officers on site. The death penalty is not on the table — Anthony faces first-degree murder, not capital murder.
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