A $13 camping tool from Walmart became the weapon that ended the life of 17-year-old Austin Metcalf, a 200-pound football player who died from a single stab wound at a Texas high school track meet in April 2025.

The Deadly Weapon Details

Karmelo Anthony used an Ozark Trail multi-tool purchased from Walmart to kill Metcalf during the incident in Frisco, Texas. The weapon featured a 3.5-inch serrated blade and came equipped with a flashlight and glass breaker, marketed as ideal for hunters, campers, and frequent travelers. Despite its legal status for carrying in Texas, the blade violated school property regulations. The knife left a two-inch gash in Metcalf’s chest that pierced his heart, leaving him unconscious before authorities arrived at the scene.

Frisco Police Department school resource officer Jacob Shalz recovered the discarded weapon in a halfway-opened position. Shalz testified the knife’s position likely explained a cut found on Anthony’s finger during his arrest. The officer demonstrated in court how the blade could be deployed with a single flicking motion, illustrating the rapid nature of the fatal attack.

Confrontation Turned Fatal

The deadly encounter escalated from a verbal dispute at the track meet. Anthony repeatedly refused an unspecified request and eventually challenged Metcalf to “touch me and find out.” When the football player responded with a shove, Anthony deployed the blade and stabbed him. The entire confrontation happened in seconds, transforming a schoolyard argument into a homicide that shocked the Frisco community. Anthony fled the scene immediately after the stabbing, discarding the weapon before his eventual arrest.

Justice Delivered

A jury convicted Anthony of first-degree murder on Tuesday, resulting in a 35-year prison sentence. The case drew controversy when the presiding judge defended both the conviction and his decision to ban courtroom cameras, stating he sleeps well at night despite calling Anthony a “nice young man.” Representative Jasmine Crockett sparked additional debate by characterizing Anthony as a “scared black boy” who wasn’t shown mercy. One Anthony supporter was subsequently arrested on weapons charges after being caught on viral video taunting a white man. The verdict brings closure to a case that highlighted school safety concerns and the deadly consequences of weapons on campus.