Carmelo Anthony guilty of fatal stabbing at Texas track and field tournament
A Texas jury has convicted Carmelo Anthony of murder in the stabbing death of Austin Metcalf during a 2025 high school track meet.
The Texas judge who oversaw Carmelo Anthony’s murder trial defended his decision to ban cameras in the courtroom, saying the teenager “seems like a nice young man.”
Collin County 296th District Court Judge John Roach said in an interview with WFAA-TV that he had no hesitation when he was appointed to the murder trial of Anthony, the 19-year-old who was convicted June 9 of killing 17-year-old Austin Metcalf at a high school track meet in Frisco, Texas, last year.
“I’m always up for it. It’s my job, it’s my obligation,” Roach told the outlet. “That’s what I was chosen for.”
The incident has been marked by controversy, racial tensions, and public demonstrations. As the murder trial began at the beginning of the month, supporters of the teens’ families gathered outside the courthouse along with activists and online celebrities, underscoring the level of public interest in the case.
One of the key points of contention in the eight months leading up to the trial was Roach’s decision to keep cameras out of the courtroom. The move drew criticism from the public and media, who criticized it for limiting details of the trial to only those who can attend court and allowing online speculation to flourish.
“It was an easy decision,” Roach told WFAA. “I’ll tell you why. My main goal in any case is to make sure the defendant and prosecutor get a fair trial. Well…I know I’ve pissed people off, but I’m not here to make them happy either.”
He said he sought to balance the “vital” right to know with limits on his ability to influence proceedings and juries.
“As long as I follow the law, I can sleep well at night,” Roach said.
Asked about the verdict, which was criticized by those who defended Anthony’s actions as self-defense, the judge said the jury had reached the correct decision.
“They were elected on the basis of the law, they listened to the facts, it happened in this courtroom, and they got a verdict,” he said.
The jury could have sentenced Anthony to a minimum of two years in prison and a maximum of life in prison. They decided to sentence him to 35 years. Anthony is appealing this decision.
“We believe there are several important issues for the appellate court to consider,” his attorney Mike Howard told CBS News Texas. “Appeals are the next part of the legal process and a right afforded to all Americans.”
Anthony, who attended and graduated from Centennial High School, was found guilty of stabbing Metcalf, a student at Memorial High School, to death on April 2, 2025, during a track meet at Kuykendall Stadium in Frisco. Anthony has always maintained that he stabbed Austin in self-defense.
Prosecutors argued the stabbing was an unprovoked attack that stemmed from a disagreement over Anthony’s presence under the team tent at Memorial High School during a rainy track meet, the Associated Press reported. The defense argued that after physical contact, Anthony believed she was being threatened and acted to protect herself.
Roach had a front row seat so he could observe Anthony and his demeanor.
“He seems like a good young man who committed a crime, but today more than ever he understands the consequences of committing a crime like he did,” Roach said.
The judge, who has been on the bench for more than 20 years, expects to take on one or two more murder cases before he retires in about six months. He told WFAA that he intends to treat Anthony’s case with the same importance.
“The parking lot will never be full, the gallery will never be full,” he said. “But we still have people who have died and we still have people who are accused of committing murder.”
Contributed by Anthony Thompson and N’Dare Yancey Bragg, USA TODAY
