Karmelo Anthony has officially filed an appeal against his murder conviction less than a day after being handed a 35-year prison sentence.

19-year-old Anthony was involved in a fatal confrontation at a high school track and field event in Frisco, Texas, on April 2, 2025. After allegedly being told to move seats by another student, 17-year-old Austin Metcalf, Anthony pulled a knife from his bag and stabbed Metcalf in the chest. Metcalf, a junior at Frisco Memorial High School, collapsed and died in the arms of his twin brother. Anthony has always maintained that he acted in self-defense, immediately telling police that he had been “protecting himself”. The case quickly garnered national attention, dividing opinion as to whether or not Anthony used reasonable force. This week, he was found guilty of murder and sentenced to 35 years in jail.

Just 24 hours after the decision was made, Anthony’s legal team have started the appeals process, with the teenager’s attorney, Mike Howard, confirming that the defense had formally notified the court of its intention to challenge the conviction.
After the conclusion of the trial yesterday, we gave the court our official notice that Karmelo Anthony is filing an appeal,” Howard told TMZ.

“We believe there are several important issues for the appellate courts to consider.

“An appeal is the next part of the legal process and a right afforded every American.”

As stated above, news of Anthony’s sentencing wasn’t met with unanimous approval. On the contrary, there are those online who have gone so far as to label the conviction racist.

Among the detractors is Dominique Alexander of Next Generation Action Network, who revealed the organization has put up the first $10,000 toward securing appellate representation for Anthony.

Alexander told reporters after Anthony was sentenced: “I respected this process. I allowed and called for peace in this process.

“But Black America should be very upset about what went on today.

“I’m only an advocacy leader. I’m not an attorney. I can only help families navigate these processes when they find themselves in these types of situations.

“I can only allow lawyers to be what they are – lawyers. I can’t instruct them, I can’t stop them from doing anything. I have to respect the process just like anybody else.

“But what we saw today was flawed, unjust, and I can ask that the community continue to pray for the Anthony family.”