Karmelo Anthony’s lawyer blames Austin Metcalf for his own death in shocking courtroom argument — and draws outrage from his family

MCKINNEY, Texas — Karmelo Anthony’s lawyer blamed his alleged murder victim Austin Metcalf for the fatal run-in at a track and field meet in Texas last year as Anthony stuck to his long-shot self-defense argument.

Anthony, 19, is accused of stabbing Metcalf after the 17-year-old victim asked Anthony to leave his team’s tent inside a Frisco stadium where their rival teams were competing on April 2, 2025.

“Austin Metcalf had no legal right to use force to eject Karmelo Anthony from that tent,” Anthony’s lawyer, Mike Howard, said during closing arguments at the Collin County trial as Anthony looked on intently.

“He had the right to ask him to leave, but he didn’t have any legal right to use force,” Howard said, according to a report by the Daily Mail.

Howard said Anthony “had an absolute right to defend himself. If you wait until its too late to defend yourself, it’s meaningless.”

Here’s the latest on Karmelo Anthony’s murder trial following the fatal stabbing of Austin Metcalf

• Karmelo Anthony jurors shocked to their core over ghastly autopsy photo — and accused killer refuses to look
• Karmelo Anthony ‘provoked’ Austin Metcalf before fatal stabbing — self-defense claim shot down in bombshell testimony
• Karmelo Anthony was asked to leave opposing team’s tent ‘15 times’ before fatal stabbing, witness says
• Karmelo Anthony fidgets in court as heartbreaking video shows victim’s twin brother react to fatal stabbing

A friend of the Metcalf family mouthed “what is this?” as she looked on from the McKinney courtroom gallery shaking her head.

Before the closings began Tuesday morning, Anthony’s family members formed a circle and held hands as they prayed ahead of what could be the day he learns his fate.

Anthony faces up to life in prison if he’s convicted of first-degree murder. He’s pleaded not guilty.