Karmelo Anthony trial ignites dueling crowds outside Texas courthouse

As Karmelo Anthony’s murder trial began in Collin County, Texas, dueling supporters gathered outside the courthouse, while inside the jury heard opening statements and surveillance video testimony in the stabbing death of 17-year-old Austin Metcalf.

By the time the courtroom doors opened Thursday, the shouting had already started outside.

Supporters of Karmelo Anthony and of Austin Metcalf squared off near the entrance to the Collin County courthouse as jurors prepared to hear the first day of testimony in a case that has turned into a national flashpoint. Collin County sheriff’s deputies stayed close by, monitoring the escalating verbal exchanges as the two sides antagonized each other.

Both teens were 17 at the time of the killing. Anthony, who is Black, is charged with first-degree murder in the fatal stabbing of fellow high school student Metcalf, who is White, during a Frisco track meet in April 2025. Anthony has maintained that he acted in self-defense.

The scene later calmed, and no arrests or physical altercations were immediately reported.

Inside, jurors began hearing opening statements Thursday. Collin County prosecutor Bill Wirskye told jurors the evidence would show Anthony provoked a confrontation with a student he did not know before fatally stabbing him.

Wirskye said. “He used a hidden knife. opened in his hand. plunged into Austin Metcalf’s chest causing his death. and then ran away. ” and he described the killing as a “provoked unjustified murder.” He also pushed back on issues that have dominated public discussion of the case. telling jurors. “This case has nothing to do with race. This case is not self-defense.”.

Defense attorney Mike Howard countered that Anthony acted out of fear during a rapidly unfolding encounter and urged jurors to focus on the evidence rather than public perception.

Howard told jurors, “There’s been a lot of noise around this case,” and “A lot of completely false information.” He argued that the evidence would show Anthony was a student-athlete, an honor-roll student, and a teenager working two jobs who found himself in a chaotic confrontation.

Howard described what he said happened inside the tent: Anthony remained seated while Metcalf approached him and Metcalf’s twin brother stood in front of him. Howard said Anthony placed his hand inside his bag as the encounter escalated and made a split-second decision while the group was “turning on him.”.

“He reacts in a split second of fear and chaos,” Howard said.

Howard argued Anthony did not threaten anyone else, discarded the knife near the tent, and made no effort to conceal it afterward. He told jurors they must decide whether prosecutors can eliminate all reasonable doubt, including the possibility that Anthony acted in lawful self-defense.

After opening statements, prosecutors moved quickly into their case, calling forensic video analyst Mark Porter as their first witness.

Porter analyzed surveillance footage from the track meet. walking jurors through video captured from multiple cameras positioned around Frisco’s Kuykendall Stadium. Prosecutors shown grainy footage from a camera positioned across the field. Software allowed investigators to zoom in, but the image quality deteriorated as the footage was enlarged.

Prosecutors told jurors the footage showed Anthony entering the team tent from behind before a series of rapid movements occurred moments later. Prosecutors argued those movements captured the confrontation between Anthony and Metcalf.

The footage then appeared to show Anthony leaving the tent and running across the stadium area as other students followed behind him and pointed him out, prosecutors said. A coach later stopped him, according to the testimony.

Jurors also saw still images depicting Anthony in handcuffs being escorted by two police officers while wearing a gray sweatshirt and dark pants. A large television screen was placed in front of jurors to display the footage. and Frisco ISD provided investigators with video from five separate camera angles around the stadium.

After lunch recess Thursday afternoon, prosecutors resumed questioning Porter and continued presenting surveillance footage. Additional video was shown, including zoomed-in and magnified footage from the western side of Kuykendall Stadium. One video showed Austin and Hunter Metcalf entering the stadium and walking toward the tents.

During cross-examination, defense attorney Toby Shook tried to highlight limits in what the surveillance footage could show. Shook noted the video consists of a series of still images captured from a distance and does not show everything occurring inside the tent.

Porter agreed viewers could not identify mouth movements, precise head movements, or determine from the footage alone whether an argument had begun before the confrontation. He also acknowledged rain was falling at the time and that people could be seen carrying umbrellas as they entered the stands.

Security stayed tight as proceedings got underway. Only 27 members of the public were allowed inside the courtroom, while roughly 100 others waited outside in hopes of gaining access. Everyone entering the courtroom had to pass through multiple security checkpoints. and court officials scrapped a previously discussed overflow viewing room. leaving many people unable to watch.

The surveillance footage may be central in a case that turns on what happened during a matter of seconds inside the team tent.

A Texas defense attorney and legal analyst. Jeremy Rosenthal. said jurors increasingly expect visual evidence in modern criminal trials. making the video potentially significant. Rosenthal also pointed to what he called an apparent lack of cellphone footage despite the incident occurring at a crowded high school track meet.

He said opening statements matter because both sides are working to frame what jurors will hear over the coming days, and he emphasized that the testimony that may matter most will come from witnesses closest to the confrontation.

Outside the courthouse, strict neutrality measures were visible too. A woman wearing a Karmelo Anthony shirt was reportedly stopped from entering and told to turn the shirt inside out before being allowed inside.

Inside the courtroom, Metcalf’s parents sat on the prosecution side, while members of Anthony’s family sat on the defense side. Anthony appeared in court Thursday wearing a gray suit.

A 12-person jury was seated Wednesday after several days of jury selection. None of the jurors selected are Black, according to FOX 4 Dallas. Prosecutors and defense attorneys sparred over race-related issues during jury selection. including a Batson challenge filed by Anthony’s attorneys after several prospective jurors were struck from the panel.

Anthony’s attorneys and supporters have said misinformation online, rumors, and doxing have distorted public understanding of the case. Rosenthal said ahead of trial that self-defense is “an intricate defense” requiring a specific setup.

Under Texas law, self-defense is considered a “confession and avoidance” defense—meaning a defendant admits to the conduct but argues it was legally justified. Rosenthal said “you cannot provoke the harm and then retreat behind self-defense.”

A district court official previously confirmed to Fox News Digital that three people were escorted from the courthouse after attempting to take photographs or video. Photography is prohibited under a standing courthouse decorum order that applies to all proceedings at the courthouse.

Anthony’s attorney Mike Howard has said the full circumstances around the confrontation have not yet been heard in court. Following Anthony’s indictment. Howard said. “We expect that when the full story is heard. the prosecution will not be able to rule out the reasonable doubt that Karmelo Anthony may have acted in self-defense.”.

Prosecutors are expected to call roughly 35 witnesses during the trial, which could last up to two weeks. Roach has also imposed a gag order restricting public comments from attorneys, witnesses, investigators, and others directly involved.

The case began after Anthony was indicted by a Collin County grand jury. Prosecutors presented evidence related to the fatal confrontation during a track meet at Frisco’s Kuykendall Stadium on April 2, 2025.

According to the arrest report, the confrontation occurred inside a Memorial High School team tent during a weather delay. Investigators allege Anthony warned Metcalf, “Touch me and see what happens,” before reaching into a bag and pulling out a knife.

Witnesses told police Anthony stabbed Metcalf in the chest during the encounter, and Metcalf later died from his injuries.

Police records state Anthony told responding officers he acted in self-defense. Investigators also reported Anthony made a spontaneous statement after being detained, telling officers, “I’m not alleged, I did it.”

The case quickly became a national flashpoint, fueled by extensive social media commentary, allegations of misinformation, public demonstrations, and debate over the circumstances of the encounter.

If convicted of murder, Anthony faces a sentence ranging from five years to life in prison under Texas law.

Jury selection sparked demonstrators to gather and remain outside throughout the week, holding signs and chanting as tensions stayed high. On Thursday’s opening day of testimony. the dueling crowds outside the courthouse once again showed how charged the fight over interpretation—of seconds inside a tent. and of intent in the moments before and after—had already become.

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