In the murder trial of 17-year-old Karmelo Anthony, who faces charges for killing high school star athlete Austin Metcalf in a stabbing at a Frisco, Texas track meet in April 2025, opening statements are set to commence Thursday morning.
Prosecutors dismissed all prospective Black jurors before selecting 12 jurors and six alternates on Wednesday. The prosecution argued that the circumstances surrounding the crime were “race-neutral” and did not require a diverse jury panel, a claim that Judge John Roach overruled.
Anthony, who is Black, was charged with murdering Metcalf, a white high school athlete.
The juror pool began with 589 prospective jurors, which was narrowed after prosecutors and defense attorneys conducted vetting. During the process, several prospective jurors stated that media coverage of the case had influenced their thoughts, with one saying: “I don’t know if it’s going to affect me, but I can’t tell you those thoughts are not inside my head.”
