The coach of a Texas high school athlete who was allegedly stabbed to death by Karmelo Anthony broke down in tears as he recalled realizing the teenager “was gone” just seconds after the stabbing.

The family of victim Austin Metcalf wept as Frisco coach Robert Starr, who coached both track and football, testified about witnessing “chaos” at Kuykendall Stadium on April 2, 2025, and rushing to the 17-year-old lying on the ground, according to NBC 5.

“His face was purple, and there was a big hole in his chest,” Starr testified on the first day of the murder trial against Anthony. Metcalf’s family sobbed in the gallery of the Collin County courtroom in McKinney as Starr spoke.

Anthony, now 19, is accused of stabbing Metcalf in the chest with a folding knife during an altercation that began after Metcalf told Anthony to leave his team’s tent.

Starr began sobbing as he described coming upon coaches trying to resuscitate Metcalf. Metcalf’s twin brother, Hunter, begged Starr to “do something” and pointed toward Anthony.

Starr moved toward Anthony, but others told the visibly angry coach to leave.

When Starr returned to Metcalf, everyone was praying. Starr and Hunter knelt and prayed together, he recalled.

“I knew for sure Austin was gone,” the coach said.

The next day, Starr sent Metcalf a message that read: “I love you, man. I’m sorry I didn’t say it enough,” according to evidence shown to the jury.

Metcalf’s father, Jeff, wiped away tears as the messages were displayed.

The incident occurred after Austin, a student at Frisco Memorial High School, told Anthony, a student at Frisco Centennial High School, to leave their team’s area.

According to the charges, the two pushed each other before Anthony stabbed Metcalf — an act Anthony claims was in self-defense.

Starr told the jury that he had assigned Anthony — a discus and shot put thrower as well as a football player — along with a few teammates to be leaders that day, including setting up tents and moving equipment.

The coach explained that the tent “marks your spot” and that you are not supposed to enter another team’s tent.

Next, athletic trainer Tiffany Whiteaker testified, telling the jury how she performed rescue breaths while her colleague performed chest compressions until paramedics arrived.

After receiving blood, Metcalf’s color improved slightly, which Whiteaker said briefly gave her false hope — but that hope vanished when she saw the wound in his chest.

Vincent Hooper, a coach from another school, then testified about detaining Anthony to prevent him from fleeing.

Hooper said Anthony told him: “He put his hands on me. I stabbed him.”

According to a Daily Mail report, Hooper told him: “You know, if he dies, your whole life is going to change.”

Hooper recalled that the then-17-year-old did not believe Metcalf would die.

“He’s not going to die,” Hooper recounted Anthony saying.

“But if he does…” Hooper replied, causing Anthony to start crying, he recalled.

According to Hooper, even though they didn’t know each other, the two hugged.

The coach then called Anthony’s coaches over, he said.

Hooper also testified that he had to stop another one of Austin’s teammates from attacking Anthony.

In his opening statement, Anthony’s attorney, Mike Howard, told the jury that Metcalf, who was significantly larger, had initiated the confrontation and that the stabbing was purely self-defense.

“It’s important to know that Melo is 5’8″ and 140 pounds. Hunter and Austin Metcalf are 6’1″ and outweighed Melo by about 80 pounds,” Howard stated.

However, prosecutor Bill Wirskye told the jury in his opening statement that Anthony committed a “senseless” act before discarding the knife and trying to flee the stadium.

“If you’re scared and running for self-defense, why throw the knife away?” Wirskye said.

Anthony has pleaded not guilty. If convicted, he could face life in prison.