Radio DJ Peter Rosenberg is catching major static for suggesting Texas teen Karmelo Anthony should have gotten a lighter sentence in Austin Metcalf’s murder.
“Why is the solution to all of these things, how badly can we punish the teenager who did it?” said the ESPN and WWE commentator on “The Ebro Laura Rosenberg Show,” according to a post on X by Breitbart News.
“I understand the anger and pain that the family would have,” he said of the Metcalfs. “It’s obviously an overall tragedy, and obviously a punishment should take place.”
But ”is the Metcalf family going to be better off because Karmelo Anthony gets the book thrown at him?” said Rosenberg, who used to appear on “The Michael Kay Show.”
Anthony, 19, was convicted Tuesday of first-degree murder for fatally knifing Metcalf in a dispute over seating at a high school track and field meet in Frisco, Texas, on April 2, 2025.
The baby-faced killer could have landed up to life in prison, but the jury cut him a break and sentenced him to 35 years.
He could be eligible for parole after serving 17 years behind bars.
Rosenberg’s comments on the case sparked immediate backlash on X, with one commenter saying: “What do you want to give Karmelo a medal for citizenship?”
Another person said, “He only got 35 years on a 99 year sentence he’s gonna be out for parole in his mid 30s.
“He didn’t get the book thrown at him get over yourselves.”
Someone else wrote, “Currently Karmelo Anthony can not stab anyone in the chest.
“That’s why he’s in jail, so others don’t get murdered by a man who has shown he can stab someone to death.”
At trial, the jury heard from students who were at the Kuykendall Stadium when the deadly altercation took place.
Metcalf had asked Anthony to move away from his team’s tent, but Anthony refused, prompting Metcalf to eventually shove Anthony, who pulled a folding knife out of his backpack and stabbed Metcalf once in the chest.
Anthony’s lawyers claimed at trial that the stabbing was in self-defense.
Anthony has filed a notice of appeal to overturn his conviction and sentence.
