"Karmelo was defending himself. The video shows he was pushed first. This isn't justice — it's a tragedy."
Maria Santos
Houston, TX
Every update sourced. Every development verified. The appeal is live — follow the record as it writes itself, or browse the full evidence archive for everything verified so far.
Every card is a real letter from a real person who refuses to look away. The fight moved to appeal — and the movement is answering.
"Karmelo was defending himself. The video shows he was pushed first. This isn't justice — it's a tragedy."
"As a mother, I can't imagine my son being sentenced to 35 years for protecting himself. We stand with Karmelo."
"The Batson challenge is real. Three Black jurors struck. This case has racial bias written all over it."
"Self-defense is a human right. Karmelo warned them. They put hands on him anyway. The affidavit proves it."
"The judge called him 'a nice young man.' Even the court sees his humanity. Why can't the system?"
"Appeal is filed. The fight continues. We don't stop until Karmelo is free."
"My son went through this. The system breaks Black boys. Karmelo deserves justice."
"From London, watching this case. The world sees the injustice. Free Karmelo."
Karmelo Anthony, 17, seated under a tent during rain delay. Another student approaches, grabs backpack. Karmelo warns: "Touch me and see what happens." Student puts hands on Karmelo. Single stab wound. Karmelo tells police: "He put his hands on me after I told him not to. I was protecting myself."
Per Frisco Police Affidavit — April 2, 2025
"There was this kid sitting under our tent at track. We asked him to move." — Twin brother confirms group confrontation. "And he's like, 'Make me move.' [The other student] grabbed his backpack." Physical contact initiated by other student.
Source: WFAA · April 3, 2025
Jury finds Karmelo guilty of murder after <3 hours deliberation. Sentenced to 35 years (max 99). Defense: "State failed to prove he did anything but defend himself." Notice of appeal filed June 10.
Source: NBC News / AP / CBS Texas
Court appoints Donny Perales (Chesley & Perales) after pauper's oath. He is replaced within days; a pro-bono appellate team substitutes in on June 22 (below). Batson challenge (3 Black jurors struck) preserved as primary ground.
Source: Dallas Morning News · WFAA
A pro-bono appellate team led by Russell Wilson II — with Michael L. Ware, Gary Bledsoe, Brooke Cluse, Sean Daredia, and Justin A. Moore — is substituted in as appellate counsel of record for the direct appeal.
Source: Motion to Substitute Counsel, Collin County District Clerk (filed June 22, 2026)
The Concentric Web
A boy sat under a tent in the rain. By the family's own words, a group approached him — "WE asked him to move." By the State's own witness, the other student pushed first. By the State's own affidavit, hands were put on a seated child who had said only, "touch me and see what happens."
The short read — Good: they have video, witnesses, a coroner. Not good: their own evidence says he was shoved first. So why is the boy who was pushed the only one in chains?
Prosecutors told the jury the surveillance footage "captured the entire incident" — from the moment Karmelo stepped under the tent to the moment he ran. So let the record state the sequence it shows:
The video the State called "the whole truth" shows the other student making contact first. The jury saw it. They still convicted.
Texas law: if jurors unanimously find "sudden passion," murder becomes a 2nd-degree felony (2–20 years). The defense asked for it. The judge gave it. The jury rejected it and gave 35 years. But the video shows a teenager acting in terror, without time for cool reflection. The instruction was there — the jury chose not to apply it.
35 years for a 17-year-old who was shoved first. The "sudden passion" path was open. The jury walked past it.
Collin County is roughly 48% white per Census. The seated jury had zero Black members. The State struck three Black prospective jurors — all educators of school-aged children, the prosecution's stated race-neutral reason. Defense objected (Batson). Judge Roach denied the challenge. An SMU law professor: "A white jury in a diverse county is a choice — it's not inevitable."
The Supreme Court just vacated a Mississippi death-row conviction on Batson grounds — Pitchford v. Cain (May 2026). There, the trial court never finished the Batson inquiry; here, the objection was heard and denied — and that denial is on appeal.
The appellate record is built. The questions are framed. The fight is resourced. We do not stop until Karmelo is free.
"The State failed to prove my client did anything but defend himself."
Mike Howard, Defense Attorney — Closing Argument, June 9, 2026"He put his hands on me after I told him not to. I was protecting myself."
Karmelo Anthony — Frisco Police Affidavit, April 2, 2025"He seems like a nice young man who committed a crime and he understands today more than any day before the consequences of committing a crime like he did."
Judge John Roach Jr. — WFAA interview, June 2026Affidavit confirms: other student initiated contact after warning. Texas §9.31(a) justification preserved.
Strongest ground.3 Black jurors struck (educators of school-aged children). Zero Black jurors seated. SCOTUS vacated a Mississippi death-row conviction on Batson grounds (Pitchford, May 2026).
Highest reversal probability.Instruction given, rejected. Video shows terror, no cool reflection. 35 years vs 2–20 range.
Sentencing remand possible.Collin County saturation. Dallas media market. Pre-trial publicity may have tainted jury pool.
Change of venue argument.17-year-old, no priors, shoved first, single action, 35 years. 8th Amendment challenge viable.
Cruel & unusual angle.The appeal is filed. Counsel is appointed. The record is built. Every letter on the wall, every share, every voice matters. And this fight is not isolated — read more about Baby Kohen's case.
Stand With Karmelo →