From Campus to Classroom: Stories That Shape Education
- Black online reactions split on X: some defend Karmelo Anthony as self-defense; others criticize bringing a knife instead of hands.
- Many say an all-white jury doomed Karmelo Anthony, criticizing his attorney and citing racial bias on social media.
- Fans compare the case to Rick Chow verdict and warn about Black people in red states lacking self-defense protections.
After only three hours of deliberation, a Texas jury has found Karmelo Anthony, the 17-year-old accused of fatally stabbing a white high school student, guilty of murder.
With the verdict, Anthony is now facing a sentence of anywhere between five years to life in prison, NBC News reported. Even though Anthony was a minor when he stabbed 17-year-old Austin Metcalf to death during a public high school track meet, Texas law allowed him to be charged as an adult. He is now 19.
Online, Black folks were mixed with reactions to the shocking verdict. Some expressed sympathy for Anthony.
@MrKasualtrip said, on X “This is unfortunate but black young men need to be taught self defense by using their hands rather than your first thought to get a knife or a gun.”
“Public setting not trespassing … Was NOT the aggressor… Knife was legal per Texas law… Was attacked by two low IQ thugs… Karmelo Anthony is 100% innocent,” @Omowale99949437 tweeted.
We previously told you Anthony was two months away from graduating from Frisco Centennial High School when an altercation between him and the victim turned fatal. His defense argued self-defense, while the prosecution stressed that Anthony brought a pocket knife to the scene to cause damage.
The defense chalked the incident up to “fear and chaos.” They claimed the other team, including the much larger Metcalf tried to attack Anthony after he fled in the rain to their tent. But prosecutor Bill Wirskye framed it as a surprise ambush. Wirskye highlighted a witness quote where Anthony allegedly said, “Touch me and find out,” and argued that video evidence proved the altercation was strictly one-on-one rather than a group attack on Anthony.
Black folks online defended Anthony, arguing he did not stand a chance against a jury that had no Black members. “Knew this was going to be the outcome when his attorney allowed for an all white jury,” @heyyitsjanea tweeted.
Other folks blamed Anthony, saying he should’ve known better as a Black man in a conservative state like Texas.
“Y’all live in these red states knowing they use you for target practice & deny you your right to self-defense & have no protective measures for your community,” @dasmadchengyal suggested. “Read up on Hampton, X, & Newton.”
“Bullies aren’t victims and Metcalf is an example of that,” @shawn_orjiakor wrote on X.
Others defended the stabbing by comparing it to the recent case of Rick Chow, the convenience store owner found not guilty of fatally shooting Cyrus Carmack-Belton– a Black teenager– in the back.
“Shooting a kid in the back is labeled self defense but stabbing a kid for putting his hands on you isn’t… lol okay free karmelo anthony,” @_Matthew1017 said.
“Karmelo Anthony is Innocent because that was not Murder,” @RealFamilyCrete said.
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