BREAKING: Jury Hands Down Sentence, Karmelo Anthony Learns His Fate

Hours after finding him guilty of 17-year-old Austin Metcalf’s murder, a jury came back into the courtroom with a decades-long sentence for Karmelo Anthony.

The case has fueled significant discussion since Metcalf was fatally stabbed at an athletic event at a high school in Texas more than a year ago.

Fox News reported on the latest development:

A Collin County jury has sentenced Karmelo Anthony to 35 years in prison after he was found guilty of murder in the fatal stabbing of 17-year-old Memorial High School student Austin Metcalf during a high school track meet in Frisco, Texas.

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Anthony broke down in tears and was shaking as the verdict was read Tuesday afternoon, and he was immediately taken into custody. The case immediately moved into the sentencing phase, with Anthony’s mother as the sole witness called to the stand to implore the judge to impose a lenient punishment.

“Please have mercy on my son,” Kayla Hays said as mascara stains could be seen streaking her tear-soaked cheeks.

Despite the overwhelming evidence presented by prosecutors in the case, many saw the situation through a racial lens and believed the teen killer should’ve been found not guilty despite it all:

Karmelo Anthony supporter: "What do I tell my 5 boys? What do we do now!?"

Uh… don't murder? pic.twitter.com/DGrnCbhhe6

— End Wokeness (@EndWokeness) June 9, 2026

Court TV panel melts down over the Karmelo Anthony guilty verdict:

“What happened?! It was a 4-inch knife, he used it one time! He was pushed!… how did you get this verdict?… I’m enraged right now!” pic.twitter.com/pHlhV9lZM5

— johnny maga (@johnnymaga) June 9, 2026

His 35-year sentence is far less than the statutory maximum, and many felt the jury’s decision was not harsh enough:

Should of gave that piece of shit the electric chair.

Stabbed an innocent white kid in cold blood and BLM is mad he’s in prison? Pure racist scumbags

— MAGA Pilled Agent (@RedPilledAgent0) June 10, 2026

Here’s what CBS News added:

During its closing argument, the state pressed jurors to center their attention on the young life cut short.

“Austin Metcalf was a son. Austin Metcalf was a brother,” the prosecutor said. “… I’m going to ask you to consider the age of the victim in this case… Nothing you do with your verdict, nothing you do, will take more from Karmelo Anthony than it did from the Metcalfs… Austin Metcalf didn’t have the opportunity to meet the love of his life, hold a plaque at graduation.”

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To underscore that point, prosecutors projected an image from last year’s Frisco ISD track meet, where coaches could be seen praying over Austin Metcalf as they pleaded for his recovery.

In the gallery, Austin’s brother, Hunter Metcalf, lowered his head into his hands, visibly shaken.

Here’s some pre-verdict commentary about the evidence against Anthony: