Coach Austin Metcalf’s urgent cries came through in a recent 911 call made moments after Carmelo Anthony launched his attack.
Joshua Rebman, a coach and veteran, was heard telling the critically injured Metcalf to “fight” during an event unveiled on Friday, just 10 days after Anthony was convicted of murder for a stabbing that occurred on April 2, 2025.
“Stay with me, Austin. Come on, come on,” Rebman urged as chaos unfolded in Frisco, Texas.
“Fight through, fight through. You’re doing well,” he added, using his jacket in a desperate attempt to stop the bleeding from the 3.5-inch knife that had pierced Metcalf’s heart.
Meanwhile, in another recording from the scene, Metcalf’s friend Mason, who had called 911, can be heard in a panicked state saying, “My friend just got stabbed,” and admitted he had “no clue” who had attacked them at Kuykendall Stadium during the disastrous track meet.
“He was sitting in our tent; send an ambulance now,” he quickly instructed the operator, describing the assailant’s clothing.
Metcalf, aged 17, received a stab wound to the left side of his chest, although the Collin County Chief Medical Examiner, Dr. Elizabeth Ventura, informed jurors that it was a repairable injury.
Dr. Ventura explained that the knife had penetrated Metcalf’s central chest bone and the protective sac around his heart, leaving a significant wound. As pictures from the autopsy were shown in court, jurors reacted with shock, while Anthony, now 19, sat with his eyes downcast.
Paramedics who testified during the trial described how Metcalf had no pulse and never regained consciousness.
Witnesses informed the court that Anthony, a student at Centennial High School, had entered the tent at Memorial High School seeking refuge from the rain.
They indicated he ignored requests to leave, playing a pivotal role in escalating the situation with Metcalf, who was notably larger, weighing 50 to 60 pounds more.
During a heated exchange, witnesses recalled how Anthony threatened Metcalf, warning him not to “touch it and see what happens” as he had his hand in his backpack.
Eventually, as the confrontation escalated, Metcalf attempted to push Anthony away, leading Anthony to pull out a knife and stab him in the chest.
Anthony, who received a 35-year prison sentence, claims he acted in self-defense, while his parents, Kara Hayes and Andrew Anthony, maintain that their son is not a murderer.
“My son is not a murderer,” Hayes stated after the verdict. “He was simply protecting himself, and that accusation hurts deeply.”
Mr. Hayes expressed concerns that the jurors had preformed their opinions.
Andrew Anthony expressed dissatisfaction with the outcome, claiming his son did not receive the justice he deserved.
“A lot went wrong in this case,” he said. “We didn’t see justice. Issues that needed attention were overlooked, and we felt we had to follow orders without question.”
Following the conviction, Anthony and his legal representation have filed an appeal. A team of six attorneys has announced they will work for him pro bono.
“Carmelo Anthony’s father reached out to me soon after the conviction and asked for assistance in assembling a new legal team to fight for his son’s future,” said civil rights attorney Lee Merritt.
“We are committed to ensuring that Carmelo’s conviction and sentence receive a thorough and fair examination consistent with the evidence and the law. This is not about making headlines; it’s about due process and justice for young individuals whose lives are impacted by the actions in appellate courts.”
