Frisco Police Department via AP
Karmelo Anthony has reportedly assembled a high-profile legal team to appeal his murder conviction.
According to TMZ, a group of “heavyweight” attorneys has now joined Karmelo Anthony’s fight for freedom, specifically, his appeal attempt to overturn his murder conviction. Per the outlet, Texas NAACP President Gary Bledsoe, esteemed appellate lawyer Russell Wilson II, and reported civil rights attorney Brooke Cluse have taken over the effort to secure Anthony’s appeal.
They will reportedly conduct an independent review of his trial. Specifically, the new team will reportedly be “determining whether any errors occurred during the proceedings.” From there, the team will use their findings to support their argument for appeal.
Per NBC DFW, the lawyers will be representing Anthony pro bono.
“Our appellate team has been retained following the conviction to conduct a fresh, independent review of the trial record. We recognize the profound loss suffered by one young man’s family and the uncertainty facing another, and we extend our respect to everyone whose lives have been forever changed by these events. Our responsibility is to determine whether a legal error occurred and to ensure that every issue supported by the record is fully and vigorously presented on appeal,” the team reportedly asserted in a statement.
Social media users reacted to the update in Karmelo Anthony’s case and appeal process in TSR’s comment section.
Instagram user @wopokee wrote, “Good because its more to this story they hiding !”
Instagram user @jaeodraftpick wrote, “Yes, he needs an appeal and he needs to get manslaughter not murder so he could do his 30 days and 10 years probation like that other kid got in that state”
While Instagram user @chicagokingdave added, “All we want is a fair trial without all the BS”
As The Shade Room previously reported, earlier this month, an all-white jury convicted Karmelo Anthony of first-degree murder after he fatally stabbed Austin Metcalf at a track meet in April 2025. Furthermore, Anthony was subsequently sentenced to 35 years in prison.
As The Shade Room previously reported, Anthony’s appeal process will be underway while he remains in custody at the Wallace Pack Unit. It has been reported that the facility has a history of “excessive heat and unsafe drinking water.”
More recently, last week, footage of the moments after the fatal stabbing was publicly released.
