Karmelo Anthony’s – A new booking photo of Karmelo Anthony—released after his transfer from county jail to the Texas state prison system—has quickly fueled online backlash and worry, with commenters reacting to the speed of events following his murder conviction and 35-year sente
By Wednesday morning, Karmelo Anthony wasn’t just dealing with the aftermath of a jury verdict—he was processed into the Texas state prison system.
Just a day after a jury reached its decision, Anthony entered a new phase of his sentence. He was transferred from county jail into state custody to begin serving a 35-year sentence tied to the fatal stabbing of Austin Metcalf.
Officials processed the 19-year-old into state custody on Wednesday morning and released a new booking photo taken after his arrival. In the updated image, Anthony has a shaved head and is wearing a sleeveless prison-issued tunic. The timeline matters to the way the story has landed online: he spent Tuesday night in county jail following the jury’s verdict before authorities transferred him to the Wallace Pack Unit near Houston the next day.
The conviction itself followed an altercation at a track meet in Frisco, Texas. Metcalf was fatally stabbed during that incident, and Anthony was convicted of murder in connection with Metcalf’s death. The transfer begins the sentence as post-conviction legal proceedings continue, including Anthony’s previously reported notice of appeal.
Online reaction moved fast—so fast that many people felt the events blurred together. Roommates quickly filled up The Shade Room’s Instagram comment section after news of Anthony’s transfer circulated. Some commenters pointed to the pace and said it felt unusually quick after the verdict.
“All of this is just seem to be happening too fast. The jurors was Just finalized last week. The verdict read this week in a matter of 3 hours. Now we’re seeing his mugshot 24hrs later. This is a lot for us,” wrote Instagram user @tay_stevie.
Others reacted to the photo itself, saying the image felt unsettling and blaming the broader system rather than the moment. Instagram user @__itsher__ wrote. “This pic don’t seem right bc it’s giving off slave and it’s upsetting me.” Instagram user @zenokeylan added. “…it is what it is gotta kno ya laws.”.
There were also commenters who centered Anthony’s safety as he begins serving the sentence. Many wrote prayers and expressed hopes that he would be protected.
“Sending a baby to prison for defending himself is so sad 💔,” wrote Instagram user @imqueendiamond.
Some simply kept returning to how quickly the case appears to be moving. Instagram user @1frankjordon wrote, “Dis sh*t moving faster than Mexican music.” Instagram user @_renerenee asked, “How tf he go to TDCJ already ?????? They usually take forever to catch chain wtf.”
For people watching from the outside. the sequence is the whole story: a jury conviction. a 35-year sentence. a transfer to the Wallace Pack Unit near Houston. and a new booking photo—all within the span of days. Even those who focused on the legal process seemed stuck on one question: how did it all move so quickly?.
And if it feels like Anthony’s mugshot was already part of the headline. that’s because another booking photo had circulated shortly after sentencing. After the jury convicted Anthony and a judge handed down the 35-year sentence. a new booking photo taken at the Collin County Jail began circulating online. showing Anthony with a shorter haircut than the one seen throughout trial proceedings. That photo preceded his transfer into the Texas prison system.
Karmelo Anthony mugshot booking photo Wallace Pack Unit Texas state prison system Austin Metcalf 35-year sentence murder conviction Frisco Texas Frisco track meet Collin County Jail Instagram reactions The Shade Room