The murder trial of Karmelo Anthony, a 19-year-old student accused of fatally stabbing 17-year-old Austin Metcalf during a 2025 track meet, has drawn national attention after no Black jurors were selected for the final panel.
The jury selection process became one of the most closely watched aspects of the case due to the racial dynamics surrounding the trial. Anthony, who is Black, is accused in the death of Metcalf, who was white.
Tensions rose during the final phase of jury selection when Anthony's attorneys formally objected to the prosecution's removal of several Black prospective jurors, citing a Batson challenge, a legal objection used when attorneys believe jurors are being excluded because of race.
Prosecutors denied race was a factor in their decisions, arguing that the prospective jurors were dismissed because they worked in education-related professions.
Opening statements in the case began Thursday, with prosecutors describing the fatal stabbing as a 'provoked, unjustified sneak attack,' while the defense argued Anthony acted in self-defense during a chaotic confrontation.
The trial is expected to last approximately two weeks. If convicted, Anthony could face a sentence ranging from five years to life in prison under Texas law.
