Jury to Deliberate in Track Meet Stabbing Trial | Crime Alert 06.09.26

Summary

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Crime Stories with Nancy Grace

Episode: Jury to Deliberate in Track Meet Stabbing Trial | Crime Alert 06.09.26
Date: June 9, 2026

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Episode Overview

This episode of "Crime Stories with Nancy Grace" focuses on two violent crimes that have shocked their respective communities. The primary story revisits the track meet stabbing of Texas high school athlete Austin Metcalfe as the high-profile trial moves to jury deliberation. The episode also covers the recent fatal shooting of a Penn State student in Philadelphia, exploring the responses of grieving families and the ongoing manhunt for the suspects. In her signature direct and empathetic tone, Sydney Silvani (on Crime Alert) brings listeners the latest courtroom developments and personal accounts, highlighting the emotional toll on victims’ loved ones.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Track Meet Stabbing Trial: Courtroom Testimonies and Legal Developments

[01:39–04:58]

• Victim and Incident:

  • Austin Metcalfe, a 17-year-old standout athlete at Memorial High School (Texas), was fatally stabbed during a crowded April 2025 track meet.

• Witness Testimonies:

  • Emotional accounts describe chaos and panic immediately following the stabbing.
  • Multiple student witnesses testified that 19-year-old defendant Carmelo Anthony (17 at time of crime) repeatedly refused to leave the team tent, escalated tensions, and challenged other students to fight.
    • One key witness detailed how Metcalfe chose not to engage:

      “Austin Metcalfe commendably declined the provocation directly, telling Anthony that he was not going to engage in a fight at a track meet.” (Sydney Silvani, 01:57)

    • Moments later, Metcalfe was heard screaming that he had been stabbed.
    • A second witness recalled:

      “Some of Metcalfe’s final words were, ‘he effing stabbed me.’” (Sydney Silvani, 02:25)

    • Another account captured his cries for help and the desperate response:

      “Coaches, athletic trainers and fellow students rushed to administer CPR… while others were forced to physically hold back Austin’s devastated twin brother, Hunter.” (Sydney Silvani, 02:50)

• Prosecution vs. Defense Strategies:

  • Prosecution rested after calling 21 witnesses—most painted Anthony as the aggressor.
    • Past testimony: Metcalfe cried out, “oh my God,” as he realized he’d been stabbed. (Sydney Silvani, 03:25)
  • Defense argued self-defense, claiming chaos and split-second fear, but their own witnesses largely validated the prosecution’s account of aggression.
    • Notable moment:

      “The defense’s third witness… was asked directly who was in the wrong. He replied… Anthony was entirely in the wrong and agreed Anthony provoked the fatal conflict.” (Sydney Silvani, 03:48)

  • Anthony, now 19 but 17 at the time, is not eligible for the death penalty but faces life if convicted.

• Trial Context & Public Interest:

  • The defense presentation was brief (just a day and a half).
  • Both sides are set to deliver closing arguments; case will soon go to the jury.
  • Due to national attention and protests outside the courthouse:

    “Jurors will be sequestered if they are undecided by the end of the day due to the large amounts of attention…” (Sydney Silvani, 04:37)

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2. Fatal Shooting of a Penn State Student: Community Response and Ongoing Investigation

[07:19–08:59]

• Incident Overview:

  • William “Billy” Schmidt, 22, a Penn State senior, was fatally shot in South Philadelphia while walking home from watching the NBA Finals at a bar.

• Events Leading to Shooting:

  • Surveillance shows Billy confronting a thief who had stolen his phone, demanding its return.

    “Billy walking toward a man and demanding, ‘give me back my phone.’ Moments later, another individual…turns around, draws a weapon and fires a single fatal shot into his chest.” (Sydney Silvani, 07:43)

• Family Reaction:

  • Billy’s father, Bill Schmidt, expressed profound shock and grief:

    “He was chasing a kid who took the phone, another kid came around and shot him.” (Bill Schmidt, paraphrased by Sydney Silvani, 08:04)

  • Penn State released a statement honoring Billy:

    “We are heartbroken this morning to learn the tragic death of William Schmidt and we share our deepest condolences with his family and friends.” (Sydney Silvani, 08:26)

  • Billy’s sister, Anna Schmidt, delivered a tearful plea:

    “I just miss him so much. I don’t understand how someone could do this to me and my family…I want justice for him and for my family.” (Anna Schmidt, 08:53)

• Investigation Status:

  • Police are seeking tips—no arrests yet.
  • Listeners urged to contact Philadelphia authorities with information (215-686-TIPS).

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “Austin Metcalfe commendably declined the provocation directly, telling Anthony that he was not going to engage in a fight at a track meet.”
  — Sydney Silvani summarizing testimony, 01:57

• “Some of Metcalfe’s final words were, ‘he effing stabbed me.’”
  — Courtroom witness (summarized by Sydney Silvani), 02:25

• “The defense’s third witness...believed Anthony was entirely in the wrong and agreed Anthony provoked the fatal conflict.”
  — Sydney Silvani, 03:48

• “Jurors will be sequestered if they are undecided by the end of the day due to the large amounts of attention the case is receiving.”
  — Sydney Silvani, 04:37

• “Billy walking toward a man and demanding, ‘give me back my phone.’ Moments later, another individual...turns around, draws a weapon and fires a single fatal shot into his chest.”
  — Sydney Silvani, 07:43

• “I just miss him so much. I don’t understand how someone could do this to me and my family. I want justice for him and for my family.”
  — Anna Schmidt, 08:53

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Important Timestamps

• [01:39–04:58] – Track meet stabbing trial, key witness testimony, prosecution and defense summaries, public response.
• [07:19–08:59] – Philadelphia Penn State student’s shooting, surveillance details, family interviews, police appeal.

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Tone and Delivery

Sydney Silvani’s reporting is urgent yet compassionate, characterized by attention to emotional detail and courtroom drama. The stories are presented in a way that honors victims, underscores the impact on families, and keeps listeners informed about ongoing justice efforts.

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Episode Summary for Non-Listeners

For those who missed the episode: Nancy Grace’s team delivers a thorough, sensitive breakdown of two deeply affecting crimes—one nearing a critical verdict, the other still reverberating through a university and city. The episode is gripping, empathetic, and leaves listeners awaiting both justice and further updates.

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Transcript

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hourly update Breaking crime news now.

[Sydney Silvani]

I'm Sydney Silvani. Harrowing witness testimony is shedding light on the desperate final moments of 17 year old Texas high school athlete Austin Metcalfe. The standout Memorial High School student athlete was killed during a fatal April 2025 stabbing at a crowded track meet and the details emerging from the courtroom reveal a scene of sheer terror. On Saturday, Day three of the trial, a fellow Memorial High School student athlete took the stand recounting how students repeatedly asked 19 year old Carmelo Anthony to leave their team tent. According to the witness, Anthony refused to leave and instead aggressively challenged the students to a physical fight. The witness noted that Austin Metcalfe commendably declined the provocation directly, telling Anthony that he was not going to engage in a fight at a track meet. But the peace did not last. Moments later, the same student testified that he heard Austin repeatedly screaming out that he had been stabbed, sending the surrounding students fleeing from the immediate area in panic. A second witness, a 16 year old memorial High School student, provided devastating confirmation of the attack's immediacy, telling the court that some of Metcalfe's final words were he effing stabbed me. The emotional weight of the proceedings reached a peak when a recently graduated 18 year old from Memorial High School recounted that he distinctly heard Metcalf screaming out for help. He described a frantic scene where coaches, athletic trainers and fellow students rushed to administer CPR to Austin as he lost consciousness, while others were forced to physically hold back Austin's devastated twin brother, Hunter. These new raw accounts build upon earlier testimony from another student who remembered hearing Metcalfe cry out oh my God. As the grim reality of the stabbing set in. Carmelo Anthony, who was 17 at the time of the incident, now faces a first degree murder charge for the death of Metcalfe, who later died at a local hospital. Anthony has pleaded not guilty with his defense team maintaining that he acted out of a split second of fear and chaos and stabbed Metcalfe strictly in self defense. However, the prosecution rested its case on Saturday after calling 21 witnesses, the vast majority of whom firmly labeled Carmelo Anthony as the aggressor. The defense is now struggling to maintain its self defense claim, especially after their own witnesses began siding with the victim on cross examination. The defense's third witness, a 17 year old memorial High School student, was asked directly who was in the wrong. He replied that he believed Anthony was entirely in the wrong and agreed that Anthony provoked the fatal conflict. Because Anthony was a minor at the time of the crime, he is not eligible for the death penalty, but he faces life in prison if convicted. The defense's case was extremely brief, Anthony's attorneys resting after just a day and a half of testimony. Today, both sides will present closing arguments before the case is turned over to the jury. The jurors will be sequestered if they are undecided by the end of the day due to the large amounts of attention the case is receiving. Protesters from all over the country loudly expressing their concern outside the Frisco courthouse every day of trial. We will be watching for their verdict. More crime and justice news after this.

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[Sydney Silvani]

A community is in mourning after a 22 year old Penn State senior was shot and killed just steps away from his home in South Philadelphia on Saturday, June 6th. William Billy Schmidt was returning home at around 1:30am after watching the NBA Finals with his friends at a local bar. As he walked along the 1900 block of Durfour street, he was targeted by thieves. Surveillance footage obtained from a neighbor shows Billy walking toward a man and demanding, give me back my phone. Moments later, another individual walking just ahead of Billy turns around, draws a weapon and fires a single fatal shot into his chest. Billy's father, Bill Schmidt, spoke out to Fox59 about the devastating sequence of events. I'm still just shocked that this happened.

[Podcast Host]

You know.

[Sydney Silvani]

He was chasing a kid who took the phone, another kid came around and shot him. Billy was a dedicated student studying digital journalism and media communications at Penn State University and he was on track to graduate this coming December. In a statement, Penn State expressed their deep sorrow, writing, we are heartbroken this morning to learn the tragic death of William Schmidt and we share our deepest condolences with his family and friends. The Philadelphia Police Department is actively searching for the suspects involved in the theft and shooting, but no arrests have been made. Billy's father expressed shock that his son attempted to pursue the thieves, noting that Billy was typically an easygoing young man. Billy's sister, Anna Schmidt, broke down in tears while speaking to Fox 59, pleading for answers. I just miss him so much. I don't understand how someone could do this to me and my family.

[Podcast Host]

And

[Sydney Silvani]

I think he's just gonna walk in the door. I want justice for him and for my family. The authorities are urging anyone with information regarding this senseless act of violence or the identities of the suspects to contact the Philadelphia Police department immediately at 215-686-TIPS for the latest crime and justice breaking news. Be sure to tune in tomorrow on your favorite podcast, Apple, with this crime alert. I'm Sydney Silvani.

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