Texas Jury Composition Questioned After Black Teen Sentenced for Stabbing
The sentencing of Karmelo Anthony, a Black teenager convicted of stabbing a classmate in Frisco, Texas, has prompted accusations of racial bias and threats against his family.
The parents of Karmelo Anthony, a Black teenager convicted of stabbing a classmate in Frisco, Texas, said the all-White jury and the verdict raised concerns about racial fairness in the county’s justice system. They also reported receiving death threats following the sentencing.
Civil-rights activist Dominique Alexander said the verdict demonstrated that “Black lives do not matter in Collin County.” The Collin County NAACP and the local Young Democrats group questioned the lack of Black jurors and called for greater confidence in the courts. Anthony’s grandmother was recorded shouting “Racist! Bias!” as she left the courthouse.
The victim’s father, Jeff Metcalf, expressed that he believes Anthony should receive life imprisonment and said he will continue to oppose parole for the offender. Local officials, including State Rep. Jared Patterson and city councilor Burt Thakur, called for community healing and said the sentence represented justice.
The case has been compared by some observers to the Kyle Rittenhouse trial in Wisconsin, noting that both involved 17-year-old defendants who claimed self-defense. Critics argue the legal circumstances differ, while supporters of Anthony contend that racial bias influenced the outcomes.
According to police reports, the incident occurred after a school track meet when Anthony sought shelter under a tent used by another school. After a confrontation, Anthony produced a knife and stabbed the victim once before fleeing. He later told police he acted to protect himself. The case attracted extensive online misinformation, including fabricated autopsy reports and a fake social-media account impersonating the Frisco police chief, and generated a fundraising campaign that raised several hundred thousand dollars.