Supporters of Austin Metcalf and Karmelo Anthony clash outside of the Collin County Courthouse before a verdict is announced in Anthony’s murder trial in McKinney, TX, Tuesday, June 9, 2026. The Collin County jury found Anthony guilty of murder in the fatal stabbing of 17-year-old Metcalf last April at a Frisco track meet at David Kuykendall Stadium.
Juan Figueroa/The Dallas Morning News
McKINNEY — Days building tension snapped into pockets of shouting and shoving as protesters gathered outside the Collin County Courthouse heard news of a verdict in Karmelo Anthony’s murder trial.
Throughout the trial, which ended Tuesday with Anthony’s murder conviction, protesters in support of both Anthony and 17-year-old Austin Metcalf, whom he was convicted of killing, have maintained a presence outside the Collin County courthouse.
As they waited for the verdict, people held hands and sang in prayer as they walked toward the barricades in the parking lot. Some sat back in lawn chairs while others simply stood, taking it all in.
Arguments erupted outside the courthouse as word of the verdict spread. Police urged the crowd to move away from the street and onto the sidewalk. At one point, a person holding a baby exchanged words with a Karmelo Anthony supporter as others in the crowd shouted over one another.
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Deputies stepped in and broke up the confrontation.
About 14 police officers stood guard, preventing people from leaving a designated area of the parking lot. Another six officers stood directly in front of the courthouse doors.
Lori Arnold arrived at the courthouse Tuesday morning, holding a sign that said “Justice for Metcalf.” She stood on Bloomdale Road, the street leading into the parking lot, and said she saw how many Anthony supporters there were and wanted to show support for the Metcalf family.
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“I was glad he was found guilty,” Arnold said. “That’s justice … I’m a little disappointed with the way people are acting.”
As people waited for sentencing details, Metcalf’s and Anthony’s supporters continued to verbally clash across in the parking lot. Dozens of people surrounded them and filmed with their phones as one Anthony supporter yelled, “we should have won.”
Krystal Muhammad, who identified herself as the national chair of the New Black Panther Party for Self-Defense, condemned the verdict, calling it racist and unfair.
“This was not a fair nor an impartial trial,” Muhammad said.
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Muhammad also criticized make-up the jury, saying Anthony was not judged by his peers.
“He did not have a jury of his peers from his same social and economic group,” Muhammad said.
Ken McCain, who was outside the courthouse after the verdict, said he believed the case reflected broader failures by adults and society, not just the actions of the two teenagers involved.
“I hate that one young man is going to be lost to the system, and one young man lost his life,” McCain said. “We need to teach our children that it’s OK to walk away.”
McCain said he believed jurors should have weighed the lesser charge of manslaughter more heavily, saying he did not believe the killing was premeditated if the two teens did not know each other.
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“We need to pour more support into our youth,” McCain said. “Austin should have walked away, or Karmelo should have walked away, and we would not be in this situation.”
Some McKinney residents told The Dallas Morning News they fled to the courthouse after the verdict was announced, saying they have not seen this much commotion in the area in years.
Brad McClain said he was drawn to the courthouse out of “curiosity.”
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He said he has been following the case since its inception, and that it “added to the stress” of other local and national issues impacting McKinney residents.
“I’m a military guy, so I like to make my own assessment of what’s going on and what potentially could happen,” McClain said. “I’m glad to see the verdict was reached, I’m glad to see it’s not violent.”