Jury selection underway in Karmelo Anthony trial
By Easton Martin | June 2, 2026
Jury selection is currently underway in Collin County for the first-degree murder trial of 18-year-old Karmelo Anthony. The former Frisco Centennial High School student faces charges following the April 2025 fatal stabbing of 17-year-old Austin Metcalf during a regional track meet at Kuykendall Stadium. Anthony has maintained a plea of not guilty, claiming he acted in self-defense. Because Anthony was 17 at the time of the offense, Texas law requires that he be tried as an adult.
Proceedings began at the Collin County Courthouse under strict security measures. District Judge John Roach Jr. is overseeing the initial phase, utilizing a three-page questionnaire to filter through a pool of roughly 200 prospective jurors. The defense team enters the trial with a strategy focused on Texas self-defense statutes, which places the legal burden on the prosecution to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Anthony did not face an immediate threat.
The court expects to conclude jury selection by Wednesday evening. Opening statements and formal testimony are scheduled to begin Thursday morning. The entire trial is projected to last approximately two weeks, and court sessions may extend until 6:00 p.m. daily or potentially include Saturday sessions to expedite the process.
To preserve the integrity of the judicial process amid intense public interest, Judge Roach implemented a series of severe courtroom restrictions. Cameras, cellphones, livestreams, and audio recording devices are entirely prohibited inside the courtroom. A standing gag order also remains in effect, legally preventing attorneys, witnesses, investigators, and family members from discussing details of the case with the media or online.
Barricades and designated security zones have been established around the courthouse grounds to manage demonstrations, which included opposing groups of protesters as proceedings opened. While the public and media cannot view live broadcasts, the court has permitted a closed-circuit video feed to an adjacent overflow room, allowing journalists and family members to monitor the process in real time.
