A Collin County judge in Texas has issued a gag order in connection with the Austin Metcalf stabbing case, as the murder trial nears.
According to ABC 8, Judge John Roach signed the order Monday, ruling that “law enforcement, witnesses, and expert consultants” cannot make “any extrajudicial statement” about the case on social media, any public forum, or the media without prior court approval.
“The Court finds that extensive pretrial publicity poses serious risk to the fairness of the trial,” Roach stated in the order.
FOX News Digital reports that a trial date has been set for June 1, 2026.
As CrimeOnline previously reported, Metcalf, a junior at Memorial High School in Frisco, died during a stabbing incident at the UIL District 11-5A track meet at Kuykendall Stadium on April 2.
Police said that 17-year-old Karmelo Anthony, a student from Centennial High School in Frisco, stabbed Metcalf in the chest during a confrontation after Anthony sat under a tent designated for Memorial High School students.
In the arrest report, Anthony claimed to a school resource officer that Metcalf “put his hands” on him during the confrontation.
After police placed him in custody, Anthony reportedly said, “I’m not alleged. I did it.”
He later asked if Metcalf would be OK and questioned whether his actions would be considered self-defense, according to the arrest report.
Following the gag order, the Next Generation Action Network issued a statement on behalf of the Anthony family, indicating that they approved of the order, according to The Dallas Morning News.
“While our organization is not a party to the legal proceedings and has not been sworn into court, we fully support the underlying intent of the court’s order to protect the integrity of this very sensitive and highly visible case.”
“We understand the importance of respecting the judicial process, and we have maintained that commitment throughout publicly stating at every press conference that we would not speak on legal specifics or speculate on the defense.”
Anyone who violates the gag could possibly face contempt of court, lawyer discipline, and/or fees.
Meanwhile, Anthony, charged with murder, remains on house arrest and has been ordered to have no contact with the Metcalf family.
Check back for updates.
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[Feature Photo: Karmelo Anthony/Collin County Sheriff’s Office and Austin Metcalf/Memorial High School]
