Teen charged with killing HS football star Austin Metcalf won’t face death penalty

The teenager charged with murdering high school football star Austin Metcalf at a Texas track meet will not face the death penalty if he’s convicted at trial, according to the local District Attorney.

Karmelo Anthony, 17, who allegedly stabbed Metcalf in the heart at the Frisco athletic event last week, is protected from death row — and even life without parole — by the Supreme Court due to his age, Collin County District Attorney Greg Willis told WFAA.

“The Supreme Court has said not only can you not seek the death penalty against someone who committed a crime when they’re 17, you can’t even get them life without parole. That would not be something we could do even if we wanted to,” Willis said.

In the Supreme Court’s 2005 Roper v. Simmons decision, the court ruled the state “not only cannot seek the death penalty against someone who committed a crime when they’re 17, you can’t even get them life without parole,” the DA said.

The stabbing allegedly followed a brief altercation sparked when Metcalf, also 17, asked Anthony to move out of his school’s tent during a rain delay, according to a police report.

Metcalf’s twin brother, Hunter, rushed to Austin’s aid but couldn’t save him.

Anthony allegedly admitted to stabbing Metcalf as he was taken into custody, but claimed it was in self-defense, the police report said.

He was charged with first-degree murder and his being held at the Collin County Jail on a $1 million bond.

His legal team has asked for a hearing in which they will request the bond be reduced.

Willis said the move by the defense was expected.

“We know his lawyers would be asking for that, but we need to just let all that play out in the courtroom,” he said.

The killing, which made national headlines, has sparked tensions locally after Anthony’s family’s address was leaked online, sparking a wave of threats, Dominique Alexander, founder of the Next Generation Action Network (NGAN), told WFAA.

The high emotions behind the case has led to speculation the trial could be held in another location, but Willis believes the jury should be made up of locals.

“Ultimately, that’ll be a judge’s decision to make at the time of trial, but, yes, this happened in Collin County. I want Collin County citizens to be able to decide this,” Willis said.