Karmelo Anthony has filed an appeal against his first-degree murder conviction one day after being sentenced to 35 years in prison by a Texas jury for the fatal stabbing of high school athlete Austin Metcalf. Anthony's defense attorneys submitted the notice of appeal on Wednesday, initiating the process to contest the conviction and sentence in a higher court. This procedural step may take years and does not ensure a new trial.
Following his sentencing, Collin County authorities released Anthony's booking photo, indicating he has been held in isolation. He is expected to be transferred to the Texas Department of Criminal Justice for intake and classification before being assigned to a prison unit.
The jury convicted the 19-year-old Anthony on June 9, 2026, after a trial that lasted nine days. The incident occurred in April 2025 during a track event in Frisco, Texas. Video evidence and witness testimonies suggested that Anthony provoked the altercation with Metcalf, undermining his self-defense claims. During the verdict announcement, Anthony was visibly emotional. The victim's family expressed their grief in court, with Metcalf's father confronting Anthony directly.