The narrative of the innocent black kid standing up to "white bullies" is falling apart. Karmelo Anthony, age 19, was convicted in June 2026 of murdering 17-year-old Austin Metcalf (who was also 17 at the time) by fatally stabbing him in the chest during a confrontation at a high school track meet in April 2025. A Collin County jury sentenced him to 35 years in prison. Anthony claimed self-defense; arguing that Metcalf "shoved him" and that he was protecting himself.
Anthony's family raised $634,000 from gullible liberals on claims self defense and racism, but their story started to fall apart early in the trial. His conviction was met with outrage by progressive commentators and Democrat politician who continue to assert that Anthony should be freed from prison. Efforts were immediately launched for a new trial.
However, Kaufman County Judge Michael Chitty (appointed after the original trial judge was recused) denied the motion in a brief order after a two-day hearing, stating he had reviewed the motion, record, evidence, arguments, briefs, and case law.
During the new-trial hearing, previously excluded character evidence was discussed that was kept out of the original trial. Under an informal “gentleman’s agreement” between prosecutors and defense, this evidence was omitted and focus was limited to the day of the incident in order to avoid "inflaming racial tensions".
This new evidence included text messages and notes from Karmelo Anthony expressing extreme violence. Examples included messages about stabbing someone and “licking the blood off the bla
