Just moments after a jury convicted Karmelo Anthony of murdering fellow teenager Austin Metcalf, the 19-year-old’s mother took the stand and made an emotional plea for mercy as jurors prepared to decide how much time her son could spend behind bars.
Fighting back tears, Kala Hayes asked the Collin County jury to show compassion during the sentencing phase of the closely watched Texas murder trial.
“Please have mercy on my son,” Hayes told jurors.
“He’s my oldest. He’ll always be my baby. I love him very much,” she said through tears.
Hayes also insisted that Anthony was remorseful for the events that led to Metcalf’s death.
“I know my son, and he’s very sorry for what he did,” she testified.
Her emotional testimony came shortly after jurors returned a guilty verdict in the fatal stabbing of 17-year-old Austin Metcalf during a high school track meet in Frisco on April 2, 2025.
Anthony now faces a possible sentence of up to 99 years in prison. The same jury that convicted him of first-degree murder will determine his punishment.
Jurors reached their guilty verdict in less than three hours after hearing final arguments from both prosecutors and defense attorneys.
The trial drew national attention and sparked intense debate over self-defense, race, and youth violence. Prosecutors forcefully challenged Anthony’s claim that he acted to protect himself, arguing instead that he brought a knife to a high school sporting event and chose not to walk away from a confrontation that could have been avoided.
At the same time, donations to Anthony’s legal defense fund on GiveSendGo surged past $625,000 as supporters continued to rally behind him.
The deadly confrontation unfolded during a rain delay at Kuykendall Stadium, where athletes had gathered beneath team tents while waiting for competition to resume.
According to testimony, Anthony refused repeated requests to leave a tent designated for Memorial High School’s track team.
Witnesses said tensions escalated as Metcalf confronted Anthony about remaining under the tent.
Several witnesses testified that Anthony warned Metcalf, “Touch me and see what happens,” while keeping one hand concealed inside his backpack, leading some students to believe he was indicating he had a weapon.
Moments later, Metcalf pushed Anthony, and Anthony responded by pulling out a knife and stabbing him once in the chest, according to testimony presented during the trial.
Prosecutors argued that Anthony acted as the aggressor during the confrontation and highlighted statements he made following the incident.
Jurors were shown evidence that Anthony admitted his involvement shortly after the stabbing.
“I’m not alleged, I did it,” Anthony was heard saying on video shown during the trial.
Witnesses also testified that Anthony told others, “He put his hands on me,” while continuing to maintain that he acted in self-defense.
The sentencing phase is now underway, with jurors tasked with deciding how many years Anthony will serve for the killing of Austin Metcalf.
