Karmelo Anthony sentenced to 35 years for first-degree murder
19-year-old Karmelo Anthony was sentenced to 35 years in state prison for the first-degree murder of Austin Metcalf, 17, at a track meet. Metcalf’s father delivered an emotional victim impact statement. Collin County District Attorney Greg Willis affirmed that justice was served in this tragic case.
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The public reaction to Karmelo Anthony’s guilty verdict on Tuesday is garnering a shock wave of responses online; people are either supporting the jury’s decision or criticizing it, in support of Austin Metcalf’s killer.
Anthony was charged, tried and ultimately convicted of murder for stabbing and killing 17-year-old Metcalf at a high school track meet in April 2025. He was sentenced to 35 years behind bars.
Anthony, who is now 19 years old, stabbed Metcalf in the chest during an altercation between two teens near a team tent at Kuykendall Stadium in Frisco, Texas.
Karmelo Anthony is accused of stabbing Austin Metcalf to death during a track meet in Frisco, Texas, on April 2, 2025. (Jeff Metcalf/FOX4)
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Following Tuesday’s verdict, rapper Cardi B posted on X, “Wow! Just freakin wow! DISGUSTING… This is not justice, this is trying to make an example!!!”
KARMELO ANTHONY JURY REACHES VERDICT IN MURDER TRIAL IN TEXAS TRACK MEET STABBING
The artist’s post has generated 10 million views with tens of thousands of impressions. Tomi Lahren, a political commentator and host of Outkick’s “Tomi Lahren Is Fearless,” responded to the post saying, “Yes, the example is, don’t stab somebody in the chest. Thanks for playing.”
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A court sketch shows Karmelo Anthony during his trial in Collin County, Texas, where he was convicted of murder in the 2025 stabbing death of Austin Metcalf on June 9, 2026. (Pat Lopez)
Others have also weighed in on the post. Matt Van Swol, a user with more than half a million followers, replied: “I know… It’s like, ‘Damn, Black people cant stab any White people to death anymore and not go to prison just because they are Black.’ Devastating.”
Rival crowds chant outside the courthouse during Karmelo Anthony’s trial. (Derek Shook for Digital)
Zeek Arkham, a former New York Police Department officer and current host of “Reasonable Suspiscion” podcast, replied: “‘Trying to make an example?’ Yes, Cardi…stabbing people is bad. We should make stabbing people as unattractive as possible. Might cause people to think before they stab someone. Thanks… I think?”
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Karmelo Anthony, 17, was arrested and charged with first-degree murder in the stabbing death of Texas track star Austin Metcalf. (FOX 4)
Digital has reached out to Cardi B’s team for further comment.
