Fears are mounting for the Karmelo Anthony jurors as a disturbing trend goes viral of agitators attacking people across the country and accusing them of being on the jury.

Anthony, 19, was found guilty of murder and sentenced to 35 years behind bars for fatally stabbing 17-year-old Austin Metcalf at a Texas track meet in 2025.

The murder case shocked America, and the discussion surrounding the killing of a white teenager by a black peer quickly became racially fraught.

 

The verdict prompted fierce backlash from Anthony’s supporters who say he was discriminated against because there were no black members of the jury.

The judge has issued a gag order for the jurors that prevents them speaking about the case and protects their identities amid concerns for their safety.

A new online trend has emerged of Anthony’s supporters approaching unsuspecting people and accusing them of being on the jury.

One video posted by a user in Jacksonville, Florida, showed a man on a bike confronting another person who appeared to be homeless, sitting on a sidewalk.

The cyclist said, ‘Hey, wasn’t he on jury selection?’ before hitting him.

Karmelo Anthony (above), 19, was found guilty of murder and sentenced to 35 years behind bars for fatally stabbing 17-year-old Austin Metcalf at a Texas track meet last year
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Karmelo Anthony (above), 19, was found guilty of murder and sentenced to 35 years behind bars for fatally stabbing 17-year-old Austin Metcalf at a Texas track meet last year

One video posted by a user in Jacksonville, Florida, showed a man on a bike confronting another man and accusing him of being on the jury
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One video posted by a user in Jacksonville, Florida, showed a man on a bike confronting another man and accusing him of being on the jury

A woman standing nearby said, ‘No, he wasn’t, seriously, no, he wasn’t,’ and added, ‘He’s a vet, dude.’

The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office confirmed to the Daily Mail that it is investigating the video.

The Daily Mail contacted the video poster for comment.

Cruel sleuths have also created similar AI-generated videos of being attacked in a campaign of intimidation.

Anthony, who was 17 at the time, claimed he was acting in self-defense when he stabbed Metcalf with a folding knife after a heated argument under a tent.

However, after a nearly weeklong trial, the jury deliberated for just three hours and rejected his claim. Less than 24 hours later, Anthony’s lawyers have already filed a notice appealing the guilty verdict.

Twelve jurors and six alternates, who were mostly white, with the exception of three Hispanics, two Asians and two from the Middle East and India, were selected to decide Anthony’s fate.

During jury selection, defense attorneys raised a Batson challenge, a legal objection used when it is believed potential jurors were struck off because of race, which was rejected by the judge.

Throughout the trial, racially charged protests erupted outside the courtroom with Anthony supporters declaring the teenager should ‘walk free.’

Prosecutors eviscerated Anthony’s self-defense claim that Metcalf attacked him first with video evidence and witness testimony.

Anthony, who was 17 at the time, claimed he was acting in self-defense when he stabbed Metcalf (above) with a folding knife after a heated argument under a tent
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Anthony, who was 17 at the time, claimed he was acting in self-defense when he stabbed Metcalf (above) with a folding knife after a heated argument under a tent

Witnesses who were in the tent described Anthony as the aggressor, testifying that Anthony told Metcalf, ‘Touch me and see what happens,’ provoking Metcalf to push Anthony, who then pulled out a knife and stabbed him in the chest.

Prosecutors said Metcalf’s twin brother, Hunter, rushed to his aid as Anthony ran from the scene and later tried to blend into groups of kids who were exiting the stadium.

Anthony sat motionless in court as police body camera footage from April of last year showed Hunter pleading for help after the stabbing.

Hunter shouted, ‘Oh my God. He’s my best friend. He’s my brother.’

He became hysterical as he begged for help and cried out, ‘I can’t do this.’

At one point, Hunter grew incoherent and seemed to be praying out loud.

Jurors gasped in horror after being shown never-before-seen photos of Metcalf’s punctured heart during the trial.

Metcalf was stabbed once, with the knife piercing through his bone in the center of his chest and puncturing the right side of his heart, a medical examiner testified.

While cross-examining the medical examiner, Anthony’s lawyers implied that Metcalf impaled himself on the knife.

After his defense lawyers called on six witnesses who offered underwhelming evidence, Anthony opted not to take the stand.