New details about Austin Metcalf and Karmelo Anthony are emerging as Anthony seeks a new trial — including information about both teenagers that jurors never heard.
Anthony was convicted of murder in the 2025 stabbing death of 17-year-old Metcalf during a confrontation at a Frisco, Texas, high school track meet. Anthony has maintained that he acted in self-defense.
Now, court proceedings are revealing how much information was kept outside the original trial.
Why Didn’t the Jury Hear It?
Prosecutors and Anthony’s original defense attorneys had an informal, off-the-record agreement to keep certain character and background evidence involving both teenagers away from the jury, according to CBS News Texas and KERA.
The goal was to keep the trial focused on what happened during the fatal confrontation rather than allowing either teenager’s past to dominate the case.
The highly publicized case had also generated racial tensions and threats, creating additional concerns about inflammatory information becoming public.
Anthony’s current attorneys are now challenging aspects of how the original trial was conducted as they seek a new trial.
New Details About Austin Metcalf
According to court records detailed by CBS News Texas and KERA, Metcalf and his twin brother were previously caught spray-painting racist and antisemitic graffiti.
The graffiti reportedly included KKK references, racial slurs and a message calling for Black people to be killed.
The brothers reportedly admitted to the vandalism and received 12 months of juvenile probation.
Other records reportedly document Metcalf using racial slurs at school and contain allegations involving bullying, fighting and physical altercations.
Records presented during the proceedings also reference anger concerns and an incident involving discussion of bringing a gun to school.
None of that information was presented to the jury.
Prosecutors Had Allegations About Karmelo Anthony, Too
The withheld information was not limited to Metcalf.
Prosecutors had gathered material concerning Anthony that reportedly included previous fights, threatening or violent messages and discussions involving weapons, according to CBS News Texas.
Court proceedings also revealed allegations involving Anthony’s former girlfriend, including claims that he had been stalking her and refusing to accept the end of their relationship.
Jurors did not hear that information either.
Does Any of This Change the Case?
The revelations do not establish that Metcalf’s killing was justified. Likewise, allegations about Anthony’s previous behavior do not automatically disprove his self-defense claim.
Instead, the disclosures raise a larger question about the original trial:
Did withholding information about both teenagers help jurors focus on what happened that day — or keep them from hearing evidence they should have been allowed to consider?
That question is now part of Anthony’s continuing effort to obtain a new trial, which has also been covered by the Associated Press.
Sources & Further Reading
CBS News Texas — New details about the backgrounds of Karmelo Anthony and Austin Metcalf
KERA — Evidence involving Anthony and Metcalf kept from the original trial
