Karmelo Anthony Trial: 'Senseless M*rder or Self-Defense?' Coach Sobs On Stands, Protesters Scream

本站添加: 2026-06-07

[00:00:00]I'm Kristina Wyatt in Dallas, and here are your top stories.

[00:00:03]>> I'm going to push you if I get close enough.

[00:00:06]Push you right into that grave.

[00:00:07]>> Chaos unfolding outside of the courthouse in McKinney, Texas, as opening statements in the Carmelo Anthony murder trial kicked off on Thursday, with both sides making arguments that set the stage for what we can expect to see over the next couple of weeks. First Assistant District Attorney Bill Wirskye told the jury that Anthony bought a weapon that was banned at the school event in the Frisco's Kay Bailey Hutchison Stadium, then quote plunged the knife into the chest, buried it into the heart of another young man, causing his death, and then he ran away.

[00:00:41]He called the fatal stabbing of 17-year-old Austin Metcalfe a quote provoked unjustified murder that has nothing to do with race and is not self-defense, saying that Anthony provoked Metcalfe by taunting Austin and his brother after they told him to leave their school's tent area. He said quote the facts of this case are as simple as killing was senseless, adding that the video tells the story, shows the murder, and there were witnesses that will testify to it. On the flip side, lead defense attorney Mike Howard told jurors that quote everybody in that tent is a teammate and friend of Austin and Hunter Metcalfe, appearing to introduce the thought that they may have a motive to give testimony favorable to the Metcalfe, saying quote you're going to hear differing accounts of what was said. Howard also detailed the size difference between the defendant and the deceased, saying that Anthony is 5'8 and about 130 lb, while the Metcalfe brothers were closer to 6'1 and about 215 lb. He admitted that Anthony was told to leave the tent, which was designated to Memorial High School, but refused, instead sending off a warning saying quote touch me and see what happens. And this is where the defense deviates, saying that Austin quote makes the first physical contact in spite of the warning. Then claimed the situation was filled with chaos and fear and Anthony had to make a split-second decision saying, "In that split second, Melo has a decision to make, how and when to act. So he reacts in a split second of fear and chaos. He immediately says, 'I was defending myself.'" Howard is referring to Anthony as Melo during the trial. Opening statements in the first half day of witness testimony being heard by a jury that was seated on Wednesday and will determine the fate of Anthony. He faces 5 to 99 years or life in prison. A jury of 12 people plus six alternates were chosen out of 600. We now know the makeup of the jury as they filed in for day one of trial. There are 10 women, eight men, and they are a mix of white, Asian, Hispanic, and Middle Eastern, aged from their 20s through their 60s. The final three black potential jurors were dismissed on Wednesday on the grounds that they were all educators, therefore too close to the case. The defense objected, but the judge overruled. Dominique Alexander, who acted as a confidant for the family, said, "Not having any black jurors was a, quote, deeply troubling situation," adding that there is outrage because, quote, "The prosecution used its final strikes to remove the remaining qualified black jurors from the jury pool." During this selection process, potential jurors were asked whether they would be able to send a young person to jail with some saying, "He does look like a child. Maybe he can learn something. I would want him to learn."

[00:03:29]Others said they'd have a hard time putting someone who is black behind bars with one man saying, quote, "I don't know that I could put a brother in jail."

[00:03:38]Some potential jurors are worried that there would be some type of backlash if a certain verdict was reached in the case. One man said he was angry when he heard about Anthony stabbing and killing Metcalf saying, "He has a son about the same age. Anthony's defense attorney pulled out all the stops during jury selection from referencing Anthony as Melo to claiming Anthony was legally able to carry the knife and even asking about potential jurors stance on immigration policy. Howard asked the jury pool their opinions about the current immigration policies in the US and whether they agree with them or not.

[00:04:13]Some of the potential jurors refused to answer the question. Experts say this is a tactic to find out whether a potential juror is a Democrat or Republican with the plan of eliminating any person who is pegged as a Republican. Howard also told the jury pool that Texas law allows people to carry a knife that is under 5 and 1/2 inches in a public place.

[00:04:33]However, Howard neglected to tell the jury pool that Anthony was in possession of the knife at the high school track meet on school property. Anthony stabbed Austin Metcalf at the track meet in the bleachers of a school sponsored event on Frisco ISD property. The Frisco ISD property is not a public place and people are explicitly banned from carrying weapons on school grounds or at school sponsored events. Howard also attempted to assert that Anthony's life was in danger when Metcalf allegedly pushed Anthony and told him to leave the tent area. He asked the potential jurors that if their life was in danger, did they think they had the right to defend themselves?

[00:05:13]All right, here are some fast facts about the case. Then 17-year-old Carmelo Anthony stabbed 17-year-old Austin Metcalf in the chest with a knife on April 2nd, 2025 at a track meet at David Kaikendall Stadium, killing him. It happened during a rain delay under the Memorial High School team's tent.

[00:05:31]Anthony, a Centennial High School student, sat in an area reserved for Memorial athletes. Witnesses say the Metcalf brothers told him to leave the tent because it was for their team only.

[00:05:43]Anthony refused, grabbed his bag, opened it, reached inside, and said, "Touch me and see what happens." Anthony then allegedly told Metcalf, "Punch me and see what happens." Metcalf pushed Anthony to move him. Anthony pulled out the knife and stabbed Metcalf and ran away. Metcalf ran down the bleachers holding his chest, collapsed, and died in his brother's arms despite CPR efforts by trainers. He had no pulse when police arrived. Anthony spontaneously said, {quote} "I was protecting myself." When an officer referred to the alleged suspect, Anthony replied, "I'm not alleged. I did it." He added that Metcalf put his hands on me.

[00:06:22]I told him not to. While in the police car, he asked if it could be considered self-defense. Witness testimony is underway in the first-degree murder trial of Carmelo Anthony as powerful testimony was heard by state witness coach Rob Star. Star is the head track coach at Memorial High School where Austin Metcalf went to school. And during his testimony, Austin's dad, Jeff, along with numerous people in the gallery were crying. Star testified that the team tent was a big deal to the student athletes. It was special. It had the school's name on it, their logo. It was understood that kids do not go into the tents of other schools. {quote} "It is a big deal to keep people out from underneath your tent." he said, adding that the tent is a safe area for your team. Star also said that the student athletes keep their valuables and all their belongings under the tent. And sometimes a coach is assigned to stay in the tent to keep an eye on the kids' belongings. Star laid out what happened that day, saying he knew he was going to be busy running the track meet, so he asked Austin if he could help out by being a leader and helping to run the event, which most likely includes keeping an eye on the team tent. Star said he was at the concession stand across the field when he saw something going on under his team tent, so he ran back across the field. While crying, Star said, quote, "What I do see is Austin on the ground and his face is purple and he has a big hole in his chest." Starr said that Hunter pointed to Anthony and asked Starr to do something. So, Starr walked up to Anthony, who was walking very calmly with his coaches, and asked him what happened. Starr ran back to Austin and coaches were around him praying while Hunter, Austin's twin brother, was hysterical. Starr, sobbing while remembering the story, said, quote, "I jumped the gate and I went to Hunter and he was hysterical. I just knelt down and I just prayed with him. I just knew Austin was gone." Before Starr's emotional testimony, the jury got to see the video from the stadium and despite the claims made by the Anthony team that the video definitely shows Anthony was being bullied and acted only after the Metcalf's attacked him, it's not clear enough to really see the details. It's the same footage that media outlets were allowed to view with restricted access last year. The footage is from a stationary camera across the field. When zoomed in, it becomes heavily pixelated and grainy, making it difficult to identify the faces underneath the Memorial High School tent. It shows activity but does not clearly capture Anthony being attacked beforehand. The state's video analysis expert was asked about the video, quote, "You can't really tell what people are doing under the tent, can you?" The expert answered, "Yes, sir." The follow-up question, "There's really no way to determine when an argument starts or stops, is there?"

[00:09:11]The expert replied, "No, sir." This footage contradicts claims from Anthony's side that there was clear video proving Anthony faced a threat on his life, making him react with deadly force. Supporters insisted the footage would vindicate Anthony as acting in self-defense, but it did not. Witnesses did, however, state that Metcalf was enforcing team space during the rain delay at the track meet. Prosecutors have described the quick movements as Metcalf pushing Anthony to get him out of the tent. Anthony then stabbed Metcalf and took off. If convicted, Anthony faces 5 to 99 years or life in prison. The Metcalfs have already been sentenced to life without their son and brother. Protesters outside the Carmelo Anthony first-degree murder trial are causing quite the commotion as the ones supporting Anthony are screaming at officers and people who are there supporting Metcalf. One man wearing a red cap with African chains and two women were yelling directly in the faces of police officers.

[00:10:12]>> Only good cracker IS A DEAD CRACKER.

[00:10:15]ONLY GOOD CRACKER IS A DEAD CRACKER.

[00:10:18]ONLY GOOD CRACKER IS A dead cracker.

[00:10:22]>> That same man was also yelling across the street at a man in a wheelchair and another holding a flag. He calls them a derogatory name for Caucasians 18 times while threatening to push them into the grave.

[00:10:34]>> I'mma push you if I get close enough.

[00:10:36]Push you right into that grave.

[00:10:41]I You heard what I said, cracker.

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[00:11:52]>> There is a heavy media blackout in the Carmelo Anthony murder trial as day two of jury selection continues on Wednesday, prompting critics to accuse the judge of protecting Anthony due to the current race climate. Judge John Roach Jr. ordered bans on photography, video, audio recording, and live streaming inside of the courtroom. In addition, only nine credentialed media seats are allowed in the courtroom, sparking journalists and critics to raise alarms about bias as they say the nine chosen are all left-leaning, many of which they say have already been running fluff pieces on Anthony.

[00:12:26]Republicans are slamming the strict no camera, no audio, no pool feed blackout as a blatant effort to hide the truth and protect Anthony, who admitted to stabbing high school athlete Austin Metcalfe. The rules in this courtroom are far stricter than the Derek Chauvin case in Minnesota in 2021, the Alex Murdaugh trial in South Carolina in 2023, and the Kyle Rittenhouse trial in Wisconsin in 2021, all of which were allowed pool cameras so the public could see what actually happened. Texas law gives judges discretion on the rules, but critics say Roach went overboard.

[00:13:02]About 600 potential jurors were summoned, dozens have already been excused, and a Carmelo Anthony supporter was reportedly thrown out of the overflow area for trying to record the jury pool during day one. Protesters from both sides lined up outside the Collin County Courthouse as potential jurors filled out questionnaires during the first day of jury selection. The nine approved left-leaning media outlets allowed inside the courtroom are the Associated Press, which frequently is accused of slanting race stories, and local outlets, KDFW, left of center, KXAS, left-leaning, WFAA, left-leaning, KTVT, left-leaning, the Dallas Morning News, a left-leaning editorial slant on crime and race, Community Impact, a more neutral local paper, the Daily Mail, a right-leaning tabloid-style media outlet, and a shared courtroom sketch artist. Anthony, now 19, admitted to stabbing 17-year-old Austin Metcalfe in the chest on April 2nd of last year in Frisco, Texas, after a dispute under a teen tent. Anthony is claiming self-defense. Prosecutors say it was an unjustified murder, and they plan to call around 35 witnesses. Many on the right say in a fair system, Americans would see the evidence themselves instead of getting filtered accounts from outlets with progressive biases on race and crime. What do you think?

[00:14:20]Should everyone be able to see what happened for themselves, or do you agree with the judge that we have to take the word of left-leaning media outlets?

[00:14:27]>> That's what you need to know. In Dallas, Cristina Owayo.