Newly Revealed Documents Show Karmelo Anthony Posing With Guns and Making Violent Threats
A newly revealed collection of documents is shedding light on the disturbing behavior of Karmelo Anthony before the fatal stabbing of 17-year-old Austin Metcalf at a Texas high school track meet. The 75-page dossier includes photos, videos, text messages and school records documenting Anthony’s alleged fascination with guns, fighting and violence. Much of the material was never presented to the jury that ultimately convicted Anthony of murder.
One photo reportedly shows Anthony holding a handgun in November 2024, roughly five months before Metcalf’s death. Another image from May 2024 depicts the then-16-year-old holding an AK-47-style rifle alongside several other teenagers. Prosecutors also presented a January 2025 video that allegedly showed Anthony pointing a firearm toward a residence before running away.
The records contain numerous messages in which Anthony allegedly discussed carrying weapons, fighting and committing crimes. In one 2024 exchange, he claimed that a gun and knife fell out of his bag at school. Other messages reportedly included discussions of burglaries, stealing property, bringing weapons to different locations and previous school suspensions for fighting.
The documents also reveal a series of racist and homophobic messages attributed to Anthony. Prosecutors said investigators recovered a note from his phone containing racial stereotypes and slurs targeting multiple groups. Separate conversations included hateful comments about gay people and messages expressing hostility toward other Black people.
Some of the most troubling material involved Anthony’s former girlfriend, Valeria Perez. Prosecutors said Anthony repeatedly made violent threats toward her, including references to guns and knives. On the morning of Metcalf’s death, Perez reportedly told a school official that Anthony had been stalking her following their breakup and refusing to accept that their relationship was over.
Hours before the April 2, 2025 stabbing, Anthony also allegedly sent Perez a photograph of a knife along with a message suggesting he was nearing a breaking point. Later that day, Anthony encountered Metcalf underneath a tent during a high school track meet in Frisco. The confrontation ended with Anthony fatally stabbing Metcalf.
The jury never heard much of Anthony’s background because prosecutors and defense attorneys had reached an informal agreement before trial. Prosecutors agreed not to introduce damaging character evidence involving Anthony, while the defense agreed not to introduce damaging evidence from Metcalf’s past. That agreement later became a major issue as Anthony’s new attorneys sought to overturn his conviction and obtain another trial.
Anthony was convicted of murder in June 2026 and sentenced to 35 years in prison. A Texas judge subsequently rejected his request for a new trial, leaving his conviction intact as his attorneys pursue an appeal. Meanwhile, Anthony’s family has launched another fundraising effort seeking $250,000 to help finance the continuing legal battle.