Texas teen convicted of murder for fatally stabbing another athlete at a high school track meet

By — Jamie Stengle, Associated Press Jamie Stengle, Associated Press Leave your feedback Share Copy URL https://www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/texas-teen-convicted-of-murder-for-fatally-stabbing-another-athlete-at-a-high-school-track-meet Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Tumblr Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Texas teen convicted of murder for fatally stabbing another athlete at a high school track meet Nation Jun 9, 2026 5:37 PM EDT MCKINNEY, Texas (AP) — A Texas teenager who fatally stabbed a 17-year-old track athlete from a rival team during a competition was convicted of murder Tuesday in a trial that drew attention far beyond the booming Dallas suburb where the two students attended different high schools. WATCH: The rise of anti-Muslim policies and rhetoric in Texas A jury rejected Karmelo Anthony's claims of self-defense during a confrontation with Austin Metcalf in stadium bleachers last year. Most people who testified were students who described a heated exchange over Anthony's refusal on a rainy spring day to leave a tent that belonged to Metcalf's team. Anthony, now 19, did not testify at trial and faces up to life in prison after a sentencing hearing in which his mother was the only witness. His lawyer had an arm around him when the guilty verdict was announced. Notoriety about the case spread, in part, because of social media posts that amplified the killing in racial terms. Anthony is Black; Metcalf was white. Lawyers on both sides, however, told jurors that the tragedy had nothing to do with race. Jurors, who deliberated for less than three hours, had the option of a lesser charge, manslaughter, but didn't choose it. The same jury will determine the sentence. "He's very sorry for what he did. Please, have mercy on my son," Anthony's mother, Kala Hayes, pleaded to jurors shortly after the guilty verdict. Earlier Tuesday, jurors heard dueling narratives from prosecutor Bill Wirskye and defense attorney Mike Howard about what happened in April 2025. Several schools were competing when Anthony sat under the Memorial High School tent that was perched in the bleachers. Metcalf and others had repeatedly told Anthony to leave, witnesses testified, leading to an escalating confrontation. Howard told jurors during his closing argument that Metcalf had "no legal right to put his hands on Karmelo." "Texas law does not require that you wait until you get hit," Howard said. "In that split second of chaos, you must put yourself in his shoes." During the nearly weeklong trial, prosecutors said that Anthony provoked Metcalf, and witnesses have testified that Anthony was the aggressor. "This is not self-defense, folks. It's murder plain and simple," Wirskye said. Anthony at one point reached inside a bag and replied: "Touch me and see what happens," according to a police report. Metcalf pushed Anthony, according to witnesses, who said Anthony then pulled out a knife and stabbed him in the chest. The teens, both from Frisco, didn't know each