Karmelo Anthony's New Legal Team Outlines Next Steps After His Conviction — Here's What They're Now Targeting

Newly released evidence in Karmelo Anthony's case has revealed chilling details from a frantic 911 call and police bodycam footage. The developments surfaced as the convicted teen made a surprising move in his fight to overturn his murder conviction.

Karmelo Anthony was convicted of murdering Austin Metcalf, a 17-year-old student-athlete, and was sentenced to 35 years in prison earlier this month. The case has remained at the center of heated discussions, with competing narratives continuing to circulate online even after the trial concluded.

According to TMZ, Karmelo has now assembled a new legal team to lead his appeal.

Karmelo's Surprising Next Move After Sentencing

The group includes Texas NAACP President Gary Bledsoe, veteran appellate lawyer Russell Wilson II, and civil rights attorney Brooke Cluse. The attorneys announced that they will conduct an independent review of the trial record while pursuing all available avenues of appeal.

The newly assembled legal team says its focus will be on determining whether any errors occurred during the proceedings -- and on raising any issues it believes could support an appeal to overturn the conviction.

The attorneys also acknowledged the impact the case has had on both families, saying the tragedy forever changed multiple lives.

While preparations for the appeal continue, hundreds of exhibits released by a Collin County court are giving the public a closer look at what happened during and after the deadly encounter at a Texas track meet.

A 30-Second Encounter and a Desperate Plea to Stay Alive

According to The National Desk, newly released 911 recordings captured the frantic efforts of friends, coaches, and first responders who tried to save Austin after he was stabbed during the high school track meet.

Investigators previously said the confrontation itself lasted less than 30 seconds. The recordings, however, reveal the desperate minutes that followed as witnesses fought to keep Austin alive.

One distraught caller told a dispatcher, "I'm at David Kuykendall Stadium. My friend just got stabbed." The caller explained that Austin had been stabbed in the chest and was "bleeding everywhere" while bystanders restrained the suspect. "People got him," the caller said.

Other recordings captured coaches urgently seeking help. "I need paramedics at David Kuykendall Stadium right away," one caller said. "I have an athlete that was stabbed."

The caller later informed dispatchers that Austin was unconscious and not breathing. Witnesses were also performing CPR and giving him mouth-to-mouth resuscitation while trying to stop the bleeding. Throughout the call, someone could be heard encouraging Austin to keep fighting:

"Fight through, Austin. Come on. You're doing good."

Moments later, another voice desperately pleaded, "Stay with us! Stay with me, Austin! Austin, stay with me! Come on! Come on!"

The Newly Released Video That Sparked Fresh Discussion

The court's release also included surveillance footage from the stadium and police body-camera video recorded shortly after the stabbing. According to The National Desk, Karmelo can be heard telling officers that Austin had put his hands on him.

Then came a statement that quickly caught the attention of many people following the case. After an officer referred to him as the alleged suspect, Karmelo said:

"I'm not alleged. I did it."

Another video reportedly shows Karmelo running away from the scene following the stabbing.

Jeff Metcalf Says He Still Cannot Bear to Hear the Recordings

During a recent interview on "The Will Cain Show," Austin's father, Jeff Metcalf, admitted that revisiting the newly released recordings and videos remains deeply painful. When asked whether he didn’t want to hear the 911 call again, Jeff responded, "Correct."

He then revealed that there is another body-camera recording that has not been released publicly. "And there was, and there's another body cam footage that hasn't been released, and uh, it has some pretty graphic details, and I can hear my son screaming, and it's something I don't really want to care to listen to again," Jeff said.

Jeff added that he hopes the release of the videos and recordings helps clear up misinformation surrounding the case.

"I hope this video can clear up a lot of the misinformation that was provided throughout the entire year before the trial came to light. There were multiple lies and mistruths that were put on social media that were spoken by even individuals that have some fame. People had their own opinions without even seeing the facts, and that's the part I have trouble with."

Jeff also said he believes many of the students who witnessed the stabbing are still coping with trauma. "Some, I believe, are in counseling. PTSD could be a thing. I mean this is a trauma that you carry the rest of your life possibly. Hopefully they can get the help they need and move forward and not be scarred from it."

The grieving father explained that he has been trying to move forward himself, but still hoped to see accountability from Karmelo's family after the conviction.

"All I wanted, yeah, I was actually hoping to show them, 'hey, look, man, I know what happened was terrible, and your son made a horrible mistake.' I was hoping for some accountability, maybe, and some remorse. Neither one was shown."

Asked whether he had ever spoken to Karmelo's family, Jeff replied, "No." When asked if there had ever been an apology or any sign of remorse, Jeff answered with a single word, "Nothing." Jeff also revealed that Karmelo's family was absent for the sentencing phase and victim impact statements. The grieving father said:

"That is correct. They weren't there for the sentencing, and they were not there for victim impact statements. They left that poor child up there by himself. As soon as the verdict was read, he was guilty, his family and some other advocates left the courtroom and turned in their badges."

As Karmelo's new attorneys begin combing through the trial record in search of issues that could help overturn his conviction, Jeff says he is focused on moving forward and helping others understand the lasting impact of what happened that day.

But despite the release of new recordings, videos, and court exhibits, the grieving father believes one thing remains unchanged more than a year later: he has yet to receive the accountability, remorse, or apology he hoped would come after his son's death.

The newly released recordings and videos have renewed attention on the fatal encounter between Austin Metcalf and Karmelo Anthony. As we previously reported, during a routine district track and field event involving multiple Frisco high schools, tragedy struck shortly after 10 a.m. A high school student was fatally stabbed, an incident that has since been pieced together through eyewitness accounts, official reports, and family testimonies.

The shocking altercation, witnesses say, lasted less than 30 seconds. As investigators continue to gather statements, unanswered questions persist: What could have triggered such abrupt violence, and could it have been prevented? The details that follow paint a chilling picture of what transpired that morning.

The Fatal Altercation

On Wednesday, April 2, 2025, the bleachers at Kuykendall Stadium in Frisco, Texas, were filled with students competing in the 11-5A district track meet. The event brought together more than a hundred student-athletes from eight Frisco Independent School District high schools, including Memorial High School and Centennial High School.

Under the tent reserved for Memorial High athletes, an interaction began between Austin Metcalf, a junior at Memorial, and Karmelo, a 17-year-old student from Centennial. Witnesses told police that Karmelo, dressed in a Centennial tracksuit, sat in the wrong tent, and Austin told him to leave.

According to the police report, Karmelo opened his bag and said, "Touch me and see what happens." Statements from multiple students indicated that Austin either touched or attempted to move Karmelo. In the next moment, Karmelo allegedly pulled a knife from his bag and stabbed Austin once in the chest.

Witnesses said he then fled from the tent area. A black knife with blood on it was later recovered by officers in the bleachers. Coaches and certified athletic trainers responded immediately, performing CPR and administering blood while waiting for emergency services.

Austin was transported to a nearby hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 10:53 a.m. According to the official arrest report, the entire altercation, from the verbal exchange to the stabbing, lasted less than 30 seconds.

Police noted that more than 30 students and half a dozen coaches from five schools were listed as witnesses, many of whom provided statements on-site.

The Family's Immediate Response

Austin's mother, Meagan Metcalf, was at work in Grapevine when she received a phone call from her son Hunter. "He was screaming that Austin had been stabbed," she said in a televised interview. She drove straight to the hospital and arrived before the ambulance.

"I saw them have him come out," she recalled. "He was on a lot of machines, and it didn't take long for them to come in to say that he had passed." Jeff Metcalf, Austin's father, said Hunter had witnessed the stabbing and tried to save his brother's life.

"[Hunter] was holding his hands on the hole trying to save his life," Jeff told CBS News Texas. "He told me, 'I looked at him, his eyes — he was gone, he wasn't breathing.'" According to Meagan, CPR was performed after Austin was unresponsive for about five minutes.

"They were able to revive him a little, but I think it was just,[..] too little too late," she said. In an interview, Austin's brother, Hunter Metcalf, also described what he saw.

"I whipped my head around, and then all of a sudden I see [sic] him running down the bleachers just grabbing his chest[…] I put my hand on there, tried to make [the bleeding] stop, and I grabbed his head and I looked in his eyes. I just saw his soul leave, and it took my soul, too," he stated.

The family released a written statement two days later, through a friend, thanking the community for their prayers and support. "We will entrust the detectives handling the investigation to determine the circumstances surrounding Austin's passing," the statement read.

"While our family, Hunter, and I prioritize commemorating and honoring Austin[…] we extend our gratitude to everyone who has supported us in numerous ways and helped sustain our family during this difficult time," it concluded.

Who Was Austin Metcalf?

Austin was a junior at Memorial High School in Frisco. Known for his academic and athletic achievements, he held a 4.0 GPA and served as MVP on the school's football team. His father, Jeff, said college football recruiters had already started looking at him.

"He was on the right track," Jeff stated. "He was loved by many. He was a leader." Meagan described her son as disciplined and ambitious. "He just wanted to play football. His life was going to the gym and working out and being a leader on his football team," she said. "He had such ambitions and a drive that is hard to find in a kid."

She also noted how deeply he was respected among his peers. "He's just such a good spirit and so many kids loved him," she added. Austin was also a twin. He and his brother Hunter were born two minutes apart and shared a bond their parents described as inseparable.

"I'm so worried about my son because he's gonna have to face this world alone now," Meagan said. "Because he had a brother that was with him the whole time and now he's gonna have to do it alone."

The family had spent the weekend before the incident on a hunting trip. It was a tradition they'd upheld since the boys were toddlers. Austin had just gotten his first hog.

Security Concerns and School District Scrutiny

In the days following Austin's death, questions emerged about how a student was able to bring a knife into a school-sanctioned event. Austin's father was among the first to raise concerns publicly. "He brought a knife to a track meet and he murdered my son by stabbing him in the heart," Jeff told reporters. "I am concerned with the lack of security."

Frisco Independent School District stated that five certified athletic trainers were present at Kuykendall Stadium at the time of the stabbing and were all involved in the emergency response. The district confirmed that Karmelo was at the event as a registered athlete.

However, district representatives declined to comment on whether security protocols included bag checks or metal detectors. A spokesperson for Frisco Independent School District said that once the incident occurred, the stadium was immediately secured, the meet was suspended, and all students were returned to their campuses.

Memorial High School paused classes the following morning during second period to acknowledge Austin's death and provided counselors on-site for students and staff. School security expert and former Dallas Independent School District Chief of Police Craig Miller, who is not connected to the case, talked to NBC 5.

He stated it would be unusual for a district like Frisco ISD to use metal detectors at a morning athletic event. He also noted that it would not be uncommon for there to be only a small number of school resource officers present. The district has not confirmed how many officers were on-site at the time of the stabbing.

The Legal Outlook for Karmelo Anthony

Karmelo was arrested at the scene and charged with murder, a first-degree felony under Texas law. He was initially booked into Frisco City Jail before being transferred to the Collin County Jail, where he remains in custody on a $1 million bond. As a 17-year-old, he will be tried as an adult.

His court-appointed attorney told ABC News that he had only recently taken on the case and needed time to review the evidence. Multiple statements made by Karmelo at the scene have been documented in the arrest report. Legal experts not affiliated with the case have questioned whether a self-defense argument will be viable.

Philip Linder, a criminal defense attorney and former prosecutor in North Texas, said the claim may face serious challenges. "If there is no evidence of the young man who died having a deadly weapon, or threatening to do serious harm to this kid, then he has no business using a knife," he told CBS News. "There will be no self-defense claim that he could really urge."

Russell Wilson, another attorney consulted by NBC 5, added that Texas law does not permit the use of deadly force in response to verbal provocation alone. He also noted that the setting — a public school athletic event — may weigh against any claim of justification.

Meanwhile, the Anthony family has not given media interviews. A statement posted to a crowdfunding page reads, "The narrative being spread is false, unjust, and harmful. As a family of faith, we are deeply grateful for all of your support during this trying period. Your prayers and assistance mean more to us now more than ever."

The fundraiser, titled Help Karmelo Official Fund, was launched to support the family as they prepare for legal proceedings.

Impact on Witnesses and the Frisco Community

Austin's death was witnessed by more than 30 students and half a dozen coaches, according to the Frisco police report. Many of those present were athletes competing in the track meet and staff members from at least five different Frisco ISD high schools. The stabbing occurred in broad daylight and left a lasting impression on all who saw it happen.

In the days that followed, mental health professionals emphasized the importance of addressing trauma among students and staff. Veronica Sites, a trained mental health crisis response counselor, told CBS News Texas that post-traumatic stress was likely. "There is a likelihood that there will be post-traumatic stress," she said.

Sites urged parents and educators to observe students for signs of distress. "Give them space to talk if they are open to visit," she added, "but also pay attention if they've lost their appetite or are having disruptions to sleeping."

Frisco ISD made crisis counselors available to students and staff and has continued to offer support throughout the district.

Community members have also rallied around the Metcalf family. A GoFundMe campaign raised over $200,000 within three days to assist with funeral costs and counseling services for Austin's twin brother, Hunter.

Residents, classmates, and teammates have also spoken publicly, expressing grief and disbelief. Kari Ordas, a co-owner of Halo Pizzeria in Frisco and a colleague of Meagan Metcalf, started an online fundraiser.

"There's [sic] no words to describe how heartbroken our family is over this," Kari told NBC 5. "It was just so unnecessary." She described Austin and Hunter as polite and hardworking, crediting their mother's dedication and work ethic.

While Karmelo Anthony's new attorneys search for possible errors in his trial, Austin's family says they are still searching for something else entirely: accountability, remorse, and a sense of peace.