A high school student told a Colorado jury that Karmelo Anthony declared “I’m not leaving, fuck you all” moments before pulling a knife from his backpack and fatally stabbing another student at a track meet, testimony that marked the conclusion of the prosecution’s case in the murder trial.
The witness account came during proceedings in Arapahoe County District Court, where Anthony faces first-degree murder charges in the death of Austin Metcalf. Prosecutors allege Anthony killed Metcalf during a confrontation at a high school track event, turning what should have been an afternoon of competition into a crime scene.
According to the student witness, Anthony’s defiant statement came just before he reached into his backpack for the weapon. The detail suggests premeditation—Anthony brought a knife to a school sporting event and chose to use it rather than walk away from whatever dispute preceded the stabbing.
The testimony raises questions that matter to every parent who sends a child to school: How did a student bring a knife to a supervised school event? What was being done to monitor students at the track meet? And why did no adult intervene before words became violence?
Metcalf’s death represents the kind of school violence that extends beyond the mass shooting scenarios that dominate headlines. Most student murders happen one-on-one, often over disputes that adults would consider trivial. A backpack becomes a weapon cache. A track meet becomes a killing ground.
With prosecutors resting their case, the defense will now have its turn. Anthony’s attorneys must counter testimony that places their client at the scene with a knife, speaking words that suggest intent, and acting on that intent fatally. The burden of proof remains on the state to prove guilt beyond reasonable doubt, but the witness testimony presented appears direct and damaging.
The trial continues with defense arguments expected to follow. A first-degree murder conviction in Colorado carries a mandatory sentence of life in prison without parole for juveniles, or life with the possibility of parole after 40 years for adults. Anthony’s age at the time of the killing will determine which sentencing framework applies if the jury convicts.
For Metcalf’s family, no verdict will return their son. For the community, the trial offers a public accounting of how a school event ended in death. And for other parents watching, it’s another reminder that school safety isn’t guaranteed by policies and procedures—it depends on enforcement that happens in real time, before a student reaches into a backpack.
Key Points
- Student witness testified Anthony said “I’m not leaving, fuck you all” before retrieving knife from backpack and stabbing Austin Metcalf to death at high school track meet
- Prosecution rested its case in Arapahoe County District Court after presenting testimony placing Anthony at scene with weapon and apparent intent
- Case highlights gap between school safety policies and real-world enforcement when students bring weapons to supervised events
https://www.courthousenews.com/prosecutors-rest-in-karmelo-anthony-murder-trial-after-testimony-on-track-meet-stabbing/ – June 07, 2026
