Karmelo Anthony murder trial will have NO black jurors after pool of 500 was whittled down to 12 as they prepare to hear about killing of Austin Metcalf: Live updates

No black jury members were selected in the high-profile murder trial of Karmelo Anthony.

The jury was whittled down to 12 jurors and 6 alternates from 500 people on Wednesday, after extensive vetting by both prosecutors and the defense.

Defense attorneys accused prosecutors of striking the final three black jurors because of their race.

When asked by the judge why those three jurors were removed, prosecutors insisted it was because of their occupation; all three were educators.

Prosecutors are required by law to provide ‘race-neutral’ reasons for striking a potential juror, and it is up to the judge to decide if it is legal to remove them.

Ultimately, District Judge John Roach Jr sided with the prosecution and allowed them to be removed.

There were black potential jurors in the pool, however some were released after stating they could not set race aside as a deciding factor,

Earlier in the day, one potential juror identified as black by the prosecution said he would ‘have a hard time putting a brother in jail.’

Opening arguments are expected to begin today at 10am ET/9am CT.

As jury selection began Monday, protestors in support of Karmelo Anthony gathered outside of the courthouse demanding officials ‘free’ the young student on the grounds that ‘self-defense is not a crime,’ the Dallas Morning News reported this week.

Some were seen wearing ‘We Declare He Is Free’ shirts as demonstrations erupted on Wednesday.

A Justice for Austin Metcalf rally is also set to be held at 12:30 CDT today as opening arguments are set to begin in the high-profile trial.

Organizers claim the rally will be ‘proclaiming the message of Jesus,’ according to the flier.

‘Come loud. Come proud. Come peacefully. We the people. We won’t be silenced,’ it read.

It was just after 10 a.m. on April 2, during what should have been a typical high school track meet at David Kuykendall Stadium in Frisco, Texas.

Students were warming up and stretching, patiently waiting for the competition to resume after a paused due to heavy rain.

Spectators and some students took cover under a tent in the bleachers of Memorial High School.

The atmosphere was calm and uneventful – until it suddenly turned to bloodshed.

In a matter of seconds, then-17-year-old Karmelo Anthony fatally stabbed 17-year-old Austin Metcalf, transforming a rain delay into a crime scene.

On Monday, the Daily Mail became one of only two news organizations granted access to surveillance footage of the deadly incident – a killing that shocked the nation and ignited debates about race, privilege and the criminal justice system.

With all the public scrutiny, the judge in the murder case has issued an order tightly regulating public conduct during the criminal proceedings.

‘This Court finds that this case has generated substantial public and media attention and that unrestricted access or activity may compromise courtroom security, juror privacy, and the Defendant’s right to a fair trial,’ the court order obtained by the Daily Mail states.

Judge John Roach Jr. ordered that no recording, broadcasting or photography be allowed in the courtroom during the trial. Additionally, only nine members of credentialed media will be allowed in the court room per day, and the court will decide who is credentialed.

There will also be strict rules about decorum.

‘All persons present in the courtroom shall remain silent and respectful at all times. No talking, gestures, facial expressions, or other reactions to testimony, rulings or proceedings shall be permitted.’

The Anthony family has already received over half a million dollars through an online fundraiser in the wake of Karmelo murder trial, however, the teen’s parents explained they need more due to the legal cost associated with the case.

Last June, the fundraising goal was increased from under $100,000 to more than $1.3million.

The family said at the time in a statement on the site: ‘Now, as the legal process moves forward toward trial, we enter an even more intense phase – one that will demand everything from us emotionally, financially, and spiritually.

‘While legal expenses are a significant part of this fund, they are only one part.’

Some of the money is thought to have been used to relocate the family after claims they were targeted at their Frisco home.

At least 35 witnesses are expected to stand trial in the murder case of Austin Metcalf including his own twin brother Hunter.

More than a year on from his sibling’s death, Hunter walked across the stage and accepted his and his brother’s high school diplomas during a graduation ceremony on May 21.

In emotional scenes from the graduation, the moment reportedly drew a 30 second standing ovation from the crowd.

Attorneys for the Texas teenager accused of fatally stabbing a 17-year-old at a track meet are likely to focus on the size difference between the two during his murder trial, according to a new report.

Karmelo Anthony, 19, was charged with murder after Austin Metcalf bled out in his twin brother’s arms during a track meet at Kuykendall Stadium in Frisco on April 2, 2025.

Anthony and Metcalf, both 17 at the time, had gotten into a confrontation during a rain delay at the sporting event after Metcalf called out Anthony for standing under a tent that did not belong to his school, the Frisco Police Department said.