Karmelo Anthony's first-degree murder trial over the fatal stabbing of fellow student Austin Metcalf at a high school track meet is entering jury selection this week in a Collin County courtroom in McKinney, Texas.
Court officials say jury selection is scheduled over multiple days, with prospective jurors summoned to the Collin County Courthouse beginning Monday morning.
Around 200 to 600 people were called for the initial pool, according to local reports, and asked to complete multi-page questionnaires about their backgrounds and exposure to publicity in the case, according to ABC News.
Those selected for further questioning will be notified by text or email and could be asked to return as early as Wednesday, with opening statements expected once a 12-person jury is seated.
Anthony, now 19, is charged with first-degree murder in the Apr. 2, 2025, stabbing of 17-year-old Metcalf during a district track meet at Kuykendall Stadium in Frisco, north of Dallas.
Prosecutors say both teens were high school students at the time, with Anthony attending Frisco Centennial High School and Metcalf enrolled at Frisco Memorial High School.
Investigators allege Anthony stabbed Metcalf once in the chest during an altercation in the stands, fatally wounding him in front of other athletes and spectators.
Read more: Three Generations of Same Family in California Murdered, 3-Year-Old Toddler Found Uninjured in Home
The case drew national attention soon after the stabbing, in part because of extensive discussion and video clips shared on social media. Collin County District Attorney Greg Willis has said the death "shook" the community and acknowledged that the incident struck a deep nerve far beyond Frisco, the Associated Press reported.
A judge previously issued a gag order restricting public comments by parties in the case, citing threats, intense public debate, and concerns about the integrity of the proceedings.
Anthony's attorneys have said he acted in self-defense after being confronted and have urged the public not to rush to judgment. Prosecutors, relying on witness statements and police reports, contend the force used was criminal and have presented evidence to a grand jury that led to the first-degree murder indictment.
If convicted, Anthony faces a potential sentence of decades in prison under Texas law, though specific sentencing will depend on the jury's verdict and any enhancements or mitigating factors presented at trial, as per Yahoo News.
