Stephen A. Smith Says Karmelo Anthony Murdered Austin Metcalf

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Stephen A. Smith is unapologetic in his assessment of the Karmelo Anthony verdict.

On his Straight Shooter podcast, the commentator left no room for interpretation, stating, 'Karmelo Anthony murdered Austin Metcalf. There's no other way to slice it.'

Karmelo Anthony was convicted of murder and sentenced to 35 years in prison after stabbing and killing 17-year-old Austin Metcalf at a high school track meet in Frisco, Texas, in April 2025.

Smith also challenged the idea put forth by Anthony's legal team that he was 'acting in self-defense' when he stabbed and killed Metcalf.

The deadly altercation occurred when Anthony entered another team's tent at the track meet. Metcalf and his twin brother, Hunter, approached Anthony, who was sitting under their team's tent, and asked him to leave as it was not his team's tent. Smith questioned how this justified Anthony pulling out a knife.

Smith expressed dissatisfaction with the makeup of the jury for the Anthony case, stating, 'I'm not happy with the sentencing because I'm not happy with the jury. 18 jurors, about six minorities, none of whom happen to be Black? I don't believe that's being judged by a 'jury of your peers.'

The jury consisted of 12 jurors with six alternates, totaling 18.

Smith maintained his stance on the case, which has brought about a controversial divide and racial undertones.

'You know what really hits home for me?' he paused. 'I think it would hit home for any parent who sends their child to high school, knowing they're competing in track, and they get a call or a knock at the door, and they're told that their child is never, ever coming home again.'

In a statement to Fox News Digital, Solange Sinclair, a representative for Smith, clarified, 'Stephen A. mentioned this to highlight that the case should not be about race, but rather raise questions regarding the jury chosen and the sentence length. With the Texas charge of criminally negligent homicide, he questions why Karmelo Anthony couldn't receive this sentence, and also noted the jury felt biased given the lack of African American representation to be judged by a jury of Anthony's 'peers.'