Carmelo Anthony’s murder trial opens with a 911 call, a heart-wrenching testimony

Jurors in Carmelo Anthony’s murder trial heard frantic 911 calls, watched surveillance footage and listened to emotional testimony Thursday from coaches and trainers who tried to save Austin Metcalf after the Texas teenager was stabbed at a high school track meet.

Anthony, 19, has pleaded not guilty to murder in the April 2025 stabbing of Metcalf and claims he acted in self-defense. The case has drawn national attention and intense public scrutiny since the incident occurred.

Texas defense attorney and legal analyst Jeremy Rosenthal told Fox News Digital that the first day of testimony highlighted the central battle jurors will have to decide — whether Anthony’s actions were criminal or legally justified as self-defense.

“The attorneys accept part of the burden here because if they want the jury to be instructed to defend themselves, they have to prove that split-second statement,” Rosenthal said.

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Rosenthal also noted that opening statements can have a significant impact on jurors.

“Eighty percent of judges make a decision at the opening statement and never change it,” he said, citing case law studies.

There was a lot of controversy in this case, and the situation got worse after the judge was appointed on Wednesday without any black judges.

Demonstrators show support for Austin Metcalf outside the Collin County Courthouse in McKinney, Texas, on the first day of jury selection in the Carmelo Anthony trial on June 1, 2026. (Derek Shook of Fox News Digital)

Protesters show support for Carmelo Anthony outside the Collin County Courthouse in McKinney, Texas, on the first day of jury selection in his trial on June 1, 2026. (Derek Shook of Fox News Digital)

On Thursday, supporters of both Anthony and Metcalf clashed outside the courtroom, carrying signs, swearing and arguing.

WATCH: Crowds gather outside the courtroom during Carmelo Anthony’s trial

Prosecutors, defense presented competing stories

Collin County Prosecutor Bill Wirskyke called the incident a “senseless murder” and told jurors, “This case has nothing to do with race. This case is not self-defense.”

Defense attorney Mike Howard said Anthony responded with a “disappearance of fear and chaos” and urged jurors to focus on the evidence rather than the public narrative of the case.

Defense attorney Mike Howard delivers opening statements during Carmelo Anthony’s murder trial in the Collin County District Court. (Pat Lopez)

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Judge hears 911 call, sees surveillance footage

Jurors viewed surveillance footage from multiple cameras around Kuykendall Stadium and later listened to the 911 call made after the stabbing.

Carmelo Anthony, 17, has been arrested and charged with the stabbing death of Texas star Austin Metcalf. (FOX 4)

The caller reported that CPR was still ongoing and that the athlete had been stabbed and was unconscious.

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NBC 5 reported that voices in the background could be heard urging Metcalf to keep fighting, while another person said, “There’s a lot of blood. He’s not breathing.”

File photo of Austin Metcalf, a junior at Memorial High School in Frisco, who was allegedly stabbed in the chest by 17-year-old Carmelo Anthony, a student at Frisco Centennial High School. (Courtesy of Jeff Metcalf)

A source reported that Metcalf was taking his last breath when it was recorded.

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When the phone rang, Metcalf’s family could be heard crying. Anthony had his eyes closed during the 7-minute call.

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A courtroom sketch shows Carmelo Anthony and his defense team as jurors watch surveillance video during Anthony’s murder trial in the fatal stabbing of Austin Metcalf at a Frisco, Texas, fair. (Pat Lopez)

Rosenthal said surveillance footage could be one of the most important pieces of evidence presented at trial.

“In the 21st century, I think judges really expect there to be some kind of video evidence, whether it’s surveillance or cell phone,” he said.

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“You have a bunch of young people and no one seems to have cell phone video of this, which is kind of surprising,” he added. “A picture is worth a thousand words.”

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Witnesses described efforts to save Metcalf

School High School athletic trainer Tiffany Whiteaker testified that she rushed to Metcalf’s aid and performed CPR until paramedics arrived.

When he saw the commotion and heard the sound of the stairs, the student ran to him and said, “he stabbed him and threw the knife in the square,” pointing to Anthony.

Suspected killer Carmelo Anthony is out of jail after posting bond. (KDFW)

Whitaker revealed that he got in front of Anthony, put his hands up and told coach Vincent Hooper not to let him go.

He said he performed CPR and used an AED until the paramedics arrived and Metcalf was taken to the hospital, where he later died.

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Then the state called Joshua Rebmann, an Army veteran and football coach who was among the first adults to arrive at Metcalf.

Joshua Rebmann testifies in Carmelo Anthony’s trial about trying to save Austin Metcalf. (Pat Lopez)

Rebmann used his military training to try to save the teenager before concluding that he would not survive.

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“Stay with me, Austin. Stay with me, Austin,” he was heard saying after the 911 call, FOX 4 reported. “Come on, Austin. Come on, Austin.”

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Jurors were shown the bloodied jacket Rebmann used when trying to stop the bleeding.

WATCH: A father speaks softly after his son was stabbed to death during a meeting

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The coaches report the results

Heritage High School coach Vincent Hooper testified that Anthony told him, “He put his hands on me. I stabbed him.”

Hooper also testified that Anthony became emotional after he warned her that if Metcalf died, it would have changed her life forever.

You know when he dies you change your life for the rest of your life,” Hooper told Anthony.

“He’s not going to die,” Anthony replied, according to Hooper.

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High School track coach Robert Starr testifies during Carmelo Anthony’s murder trial in a Collins County, Texas courtroom. (Pat Lopez)

High School track coach Robert Starr became emotional as he described finding Metcalf injured.

“You don’t just walk into someone’s tent uninvited,” Starr testified, referring to team tents at running events.

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What to watch on Friday

As testimony resumes Friday, Rosenthal said one of the key questions will be whether witnesses close to the collision are telling a consistent story.

“I look at this case like a stone thrown in a pond,” Rosenthal said. “You have an epicenter, and you send out all the ripples.”

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“What will be interesting is, what person gets up there and contradicts and says something that no one else has said?” he added.

More witnesses are expected to testify Friday as prosecutors continue to build their case and jurors continue to weigh Anthony’s self-defense claim.

Fox News’ Brooke Taylor, Sarah Alegre and Peter Cuddihy contributed to this report.