Jasmine Crockett is taking heat after saying the knife used to kill Austin Metcalf was not a deadly weapon because of its size.
Quick Take
- Crockett said the blade was small enough that it did not look deadly.
- Reporting describes the weapon as a 3.5-inch folding knife.
- The jury still convicted Karmelo Anthony of murder.
- The fatal stabbing undercuts any claim that size alone made the knife harmless.
What Crockett Said
Rep. Jasmine Crockett said on her podcast that the knife’s size alone would not make it look like a deadly weapon.[2] Coverage of her remarks says she also compared it to a small multi-tool or Swiss Army-style knife.[2] The same reports note that her comments came after Anthony was sentenced to 35 years in prison for the fatal stabbing of Metcalf.[2]
The reaction was immediate because the public record in this case is not close. News coverage says Anthony stabbed Metcalf in the chest during a confrontation at a Texas high school track meet, and Metcalf died from the wound.[1][2][3] That makes Crockett’s focus on blade size hard to square with the outcome of the case, even before any legal debate over deadly-weapon labels.
What the Trial Record Shows
Trial reporting describes the weapon as a 3.5-inch folding knife, not a large fixed blade.[2][3] But the same reports say the jury heard evidence that Anthony escalated the encounter, pulled the knife after a shove or touch, and then stabbed Metcalf in the chest.[2][3][5] The jury rejected self-defense and returned a murder verdict, which matters far more than a talking point about inches.[2][5]
That is the key weakness in Crockett’s argument. A knife does not stop being deadly just because it is small.[2][3] The more important question in law and common sense is how the weapon was used. Here, the use was fatal, the victim died, and the jury treated the act as murder, not a lawful response to danger.[1][2][3]
Why the Backlash Is So Strong
Conservative viewers are angry because this story hits several nerve points at once: a dead student, a courtroom murder verdict, and a public figure downplaying the weapon involved.[2][3] The available sources do not provide a full primary transcript of Crockett’s remarks, so critics may still argue about exact wording.[3] Even so, the reporting now in circulation gives her little room to claim the statement was misunderstood.
OUTRAGEOUS: Rep Crockett Defends Convicted Murderer Karmelo Anthony…
“Broken System” – Because He ‘Only’ Stabbed Austin Metcalf ‘One Time’Democrat Rep. Jasmine Crockett defended convicted murderer Karmelo Anthony in remarks to TMZ.
Thankfully, Jasmine Crockett’s career in… pic.twitter.com/HjS9PQN9WA
— Sergeant News Network (@sgtnewsnetwork) June 11, 2026
The broader issue is bigger than one podcast clip. The case has become another example of how fast national politics turns a tragedy into a message war.[2][3][5] In this fight, the facts that matter most are plain: a young man was stabbed, he died, and a jury said the act was murder. That is why the “not a deadly weapon” line is drawing such sharp fire.
Sources:
[1] Web – Jasmine Crockett says knife that killed Austin Metcalf wasn’t a …
[3] Web – Karmelo Anthony found guilty of murder in fatal stabbing of Frisco …
[5] YouTube – Officials, family of Austin Metcalf issue statement after stabbing …
