# White teen fatally stabbed by black teen at track meet; racists come out of the woodwork **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [April 3, 2025, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-teen-fatally-stabbed-by-black-teen-at-track-meet-racists-come-out-of-the-woodwork/1016593 "2025-04-03T23:37:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 11
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2026, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-teen-fatally-stabbed-by-black-teen-at-track-meet-racists-come-out-of-the-woodwork/1016593/201 "2026-06-04T18:03:08Z")
> [@Calder](#): > > On the other hand, his reaction afterward — asking police whether the kid was okay — doesn’t fit the profile of someone acting with cold, deliberate malice. This is what keeps sticking with me. ---
**Author:** ![Calder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e99b99/32.png) [@Calder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Calder)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2026, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-teen-fatally-stabbed-by-black-teen-at-track-meet-racists-come-out-of-the-woodwork/1016593/202 "2026-06-04T18:24:26Z")
It’s the same for me. Without hearing the tone of his voice, it’s impossible to know whether it was: _(Oh no… what have I done? )_ Is he okay?" Or _(Oh no… how much trouble am I in?)_ Is he okay?" To be honest, I am not sure how much I would trust the officer’s opinion on that either. It’s extremely hard to distinguish genuine concern from self‑preservation unless you can see the person’s face, hear their tone, and focus on their emotional state in the moment.(As I understand it, it was said while the officer was driving and the kid was in the back.) ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2026, 2:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-teen-fatally-stabbed-by-black-teen-at-track-meet-racists-come-out-of-the-woodwork/1016593/203 "2026-06-06T02:45:25Z")
Did anyone hear what I did, that there are no black people on the jury? Very interesting to me. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2026, 5:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-teen-fatally-stabbed-by-black-teen-at-track-meet-racists-come-out-of-the-woodwork/1016593/204 "2026-06-06T05:59:25Z")
> [@nearwildheaven](#): > > Did anyone hear what I did, that there are no black people on the jury? Everyone who read the article most recently posted in this thread would have read it. > Next Generation Action Network, a civil rights organization, [said Wednesday on X](https://x.com/NextGenAction/status/2062297348789752311) that it was “outraged” that none of the jurors selected — 11 women and seven men — are Black. > > “The prosecution used its final strikes to remove the remaining qualified Black jurors from the jury pool, raising serious concerns about fairness and equal justice,” the group said. “We respect the court, but we will not remain silent.” > > Several of the jurors are people of color, but none are Black. ---
**Author:** ![Odesio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/odesio/32/20003_2.png) [@Odesio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odesio)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2026, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-teen-fatally-stabbed-by-black-teen-at-track-meet-racists-come-out-of-the-woodwork/1016593/205 "2026-06-06T23:19:41Z")
> [@Calder](#): > > I can see why you have that take on it, but I think you’re missing the prosecutor’s point. Anthony’s defense is built on the idea that he feared for his life — that he was facing a threatening crowd. If that’s true, someone who genuinely believes they’re in danger doesn’t drop their only means of protection and then run. I think running away is a pretty good indication someone is afraid. I often think of a quote by Oliver Wendell Holmes, “Detached reflection cannot be demanded in the presence of an uplifted knife.” People under duress in situations they’re not prepared for often do wacky things they wouldn’t normally do when calm. Put yourself in the shoes of a scared kid in over his head rather than someone who can look at the situation from the comfort and safety of their living room. > [@Atamasama](#): > > But I don’t think he intended to actually kill anyone based on his actions afterward. Just my opinion on what it looks like to me. I don’t think so either. This looks like an unfortunate case where one or more young people let something minor get out of hand. But then we have trials so people can figure these things out. ---
**Author:** ![Calder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e99b99/32.png) [@Calder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Calder)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2026, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-teen-fatally-stabbed-by-black-teen-at-track-meet-racists-come-out-of-the-woodwork/1016593/206 "2026-06-08T18:15:23Z")
> [@Odesio](#): > > I think running away is a pretty good indication someone is afraid. I often think of a quote by Oliver Wendell Holmes, “Detached reflection cannot be demanded in the presence of an uplifted knife.” I agree with Holmes’ point in principle, but applying it here reverses what the quote actually means. Holmes was talking about someone reacting to **another person’s** weapon. In this case, Anthony was the one who pulled out the knife and stabbed Metcalf in the heart. Saying he ‘couldn’t think clearly because a knife was present’ is a misapplication of Holmes’ quote when **he is the reason the knife was present in the first place**. And just to be clear: the idea that Anthony is some kind of gang member is absurd. If he were, he would have brought them with him when he sat in the opposing fan’s seats. He would also have had a gun, not just a stupid pocketknife. Anthony also had excellent grades, and all the reporting says he comes from a good family. But I also don’t think that means he should walk away without consequences. The video shows the crowd wasn’t swarming him, and the only physical contact was a single brief shove. Jumping straight from that to pulling a knife and stabbing someone in the heart skips multiple steps on any reasonable escalation ladder. That’s why I see this as a crime of passion — not premeditated, not gang‑related, but still a serious criminal act. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2026, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-teen-fatally-stabbed-by-black-teen-at-track-meet-racists-come-out-of-the-woodwork/1016593/207 "2026-06-08T18:18:38Z")
Probably. But that’s a determination should be made by a fair jury who are presented all of the facts and arguments in a courtroom, not by Internet vigilantes. And it looks like that fair jury isn’t something that’s going to happen. ---
**Author:** ![Calder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e99b99/32.png) [@Calder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Calder)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2026, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-teen-fatally-stabbed-by-black-teen-at-track-meet-racists-come-out-of-the-woodwork/1016593/208 "2026-06-08T18:31:42Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > Probably. But that’s a determination should be made by a fair jury who are presented all of the facts and arguments in a courtroom, not by Internet vigilantes. But is that really what you took from my post? I wasn’t arguing for internet vigilantes or pre‑judging the case. I was pointing out how the Holmes quote was being misapplied and how the available evidence doesn’t support some of the narratives floating around. That’s all. ---
**Author:** ![Odesio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/odesio/32/20003_2.png) [@Odesio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odesio)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2026, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-teen-fatally-stabbed-by-black-teen-at-track-meet-racists-come-out-of-the-woodwork/1016593/209 "2026-06-08T19:02:05Z")
> [@Calder](#): > > agree with Holmes’ point in principle, but applying it here reverses what the quote actually means. I take the quote to mean that people in stressful situations often make rash decisions they wouldn’t otherwise make. You’re putting too much emphasis on the knife. ---
**Author:** ![WalterBishop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/aeb1de/32.png) [@WalterBishop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WalterBishop)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2026, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-teen-fatally-stabbed-by-black-teen-at-track-meet-racists-come-out-of-the-woodwork/1016593/210 "2026-06-08T20:29:16Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > Probably. But that’s a determination should be made by a fair jury who are presented all of the facts and arguments in a courtroom, not by Internet vigilantes. > > And it looks like that fair jury isn’t something that’s going to happen. Why wouldn’t it? ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2026, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-teen-fatally-stabbed-by-black-teen-at-track-meet-racists-come-out-of-the-woodwork/1016593/211 "2026-06-08T20:43:52Z")
When a racially charged case comes up in a highly racist jurisdiction and the prosecution has already been allowed to ensure an all-white jury to try the black defendant, well, justice has already left the building and won’t be coming back. ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2026, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-teen-fatally-stabbed-by-black-teen-at-track-meet-racists-come-out-of-the-woodwork/1016593/212 "2026-06-08T20:50:51Z")
I am not that familiar with jury selection, having only gone through voir dire once myself, but I had read a theory that one reason the jury is all-white is because the defense counsel realized his client (defendant) was cooked no matter what, and so therefore, it would be better to let the jury be all-white because then it would give a better appearance for the defendant afterwards, since it’s bad optics for the prosecution. ---
**Author:** ![WalterBishop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/aeb1de/32.png) [@WalterBishop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WalterBishop)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2026, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-teen-fatally-stabbed-by-black-teen-at-track-meet-racists-come-out-of-the-woodwork/1016593/213 "2026-06-08T21:00:32Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > When a racially charged case comes up in a highly racist jurisdiction and the prosecution has already been allowed to ensure an all-white jury to try the black defendant, well, justice has already left the building and won’t be coming back. That depends on the jurors. Saying a white jury won’t give him a fair trial is like saying a black jury would just acquit automatically. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2026, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-teen-fatally-stabbed-by-black-teen-at-track-meet-racists-come-out-of-the-woodwork/1016593/214 "2026-06-08T21:22:47Z")
> [@Calder](#): > > But is that really what you took from my post? No, I was mostly agreeing with you. He probably should end up facing some prison time or other criminal penalties, but it’s not yet certain, and it won’t be until and unless he gets that fair trial. > [@WalterBishop](#): > > That depends on the jurors. Saying a white jury won’t give him a fair trial is like saying a black jury would just acquit automatically. It’s not just that it’s an all-white jury. That could, potentially, still be fair. It’s that the judge allowed there to be an all-white jury. That’s a sign that the judge isn’t fair. And an unfair judge means an unfair trial. ---
**Author:** ![AlsoNamedBort](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alsonamedbort/32/3213_2.png) [@AlsoNamedBort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AlsoNamedBort)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2026, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-teen-fatally-stabbed-by-black-teen-at-track-meet-racists-come-out-of-the-woodwork/1016593/215 "2026-06-08T21:31:33Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > It’s not just that it’s an all-white jury. That could, potentially, still be fair. It’s that the judge allowed there to be an all-white jury. That’s a sign that the judge isn’t fair. And an unfair judge means an unfair trial. IANAL, but my understanding is that it’s the responsibility of the opposing attorney to object when they believe jurors are being removed because of their race. Do we know if the defense attorney did so? ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2026, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-teen-fatally-stabbed-by-black-teen-at-track-meet-racists-come-out-of-the-woodwork/1016593/216 "2026-06-08T21:42:45Z")
Again, all-white by no means necessarily means biased. Around half of all white people are politically progressive, after all. And all it takes is one juror to get a hung jury - and there are plenty of times black jurors have convicted black defendants, too. ---
**Author:** ![Pleonast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pleonast/32/1183_2.png) [@Pleonast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pleonast)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2026, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-teen-fatally-stabbed-by-black-teen-at-track-meet-racists-come-out-of-the-woodwork/1016593/217 "2026-06-08T22:46:09Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > When a racially charged case comes up in a highly racist jurisdiction and the prosecution has already been allowed to ensure an all-white jury to try the black defendant, well, justice has already left the building and won’t be coming back. It’s not an all-white jury. Please don’t repeat racially incendiary falsehoods. This is the same falsehood that helped lead to the riots after the trial of the cops who beat Rodney King. > [Karmelo Anthony’s murder trial opens with clashing portraits of a fatal stabbing](https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/karmelo-anthony-murder-trial-rcna348428) > > “Several of the jurors are people of color, but none are Black.” ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2026, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-teen-fatally-stabbed-by-black-teen-at-track-meet-racists-come-out-of-the-woodwork/1016593/218 "2026-06-08T23:00:56Z")
Damn. Thank you. And I already knew that from reading upthread. 🤦‍♂️ ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2026, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-teen-fatally-stabbed-by-black-teen-at-track-meet-racists-come-out-of-the-woodwork/1016593/219 "2026-06-08T23:07:11Z")
> [@AlsoNamedBort](#): > > Do we know if the defense attorney did so? I can’t be 100% sure, but the defense attorneys made a big stink outside of the courtroom, so I assume they at least made an objection within it. ---
**Author:** ![Calder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e99b99/32.png) [@Calder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Calder)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2026, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-teen-fatally-stabbed-by-black-teen-at-track-meet-racists-come-out-of-the-woodwork/1016593/220 "2026-06-08T23:07:17Z")
> [@Atamasama](#): > > Several of the jurors are people of color, but none are Black. So is Atamasama’s post incorrect? That we don’t have POC on the jury? I am seeing inconsistent results when I did a quick search. Ninja. Nevermind. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-teen-fatally-stabbed-by-black-teen-at-track-meet-racists-come-out-of-the-woodwork/1016593.md?page=10) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-teen-fatally-stabbed-by-black-teen-at-track-meet-racists-come-out-of-the-woodwork/1016593.md?page=12)