A Texas teenager accused of fatally stabbing his high school classmate in a restroom in 2022 had his fate determined by a jury, with the decision being not guilty of murder but guilty of criminally negligent homicide.
The Bell County jury deliberated through Monday and resumed proceedings on Tuesday after failing to reach a verdict initially. Following their discussions, it was reported by KWTX that Caysen Allison was acquitted of the murder charge related to the death of Joe Ramirez Jr. at Belton High School in May 2022.Â
The jury found Allison guilty of criminally negligent homicide.
Allison was granted release under the terms of his bond, as mentioned by the news outlet. These conditions will apply until his sentencing hearing scheduled for June 16, during which he could potentially face a prison term ranging from six months to two years, alongside a fine of up to $10,000.
Caysen Allison found not guilty of murder, but guilty of a lesser charge, in the 2022 death of classmate Joe Ramirez (Belton Police Department)
Bittle also claimed he tried to step in once Ramirez punched Allison, but was hit by one of the other teens in the group, which cell phone video of the fight showed.Â
Allison’s defense argued he acted in self-defense in a “fight for his life” after he was attacked by Ramirez in the school’s bathroom.
Officers went to Allison’s home following the fight after he fled the scene, where officers overheard him speaking to someone on the phone saying “I did something at school,” and asking them to come and take him to Waco.
Detectives also snapped photos of Allison’s white shoes being covered in blood as he told investigators what kind of knife he used to kill Ramirez and where he had dumped the weapon.
Madison Barnes, Ramirez’s ex-girlfriend and a close friend of Allison’s, testified that Allison made threats against Ramirez to her before the stabbing, according to KWTX. She also told the jury that Allison warned her that he “wanted Joe on life support, wanted to stomp his head in, wanted his jaw dangling from his face, and wanted him in the hospital.”
Ramirez Jr., a senior at the school, was described on a GoFundMe page raising money for his family as a “very kind, loving and gentle young man.”
Allison’s defense attorney, Zachary Boyd, told KWTX that he was happy with the jury’s decision in a very challenging case.
“The Allison family is so sorry for their loss, cause there is no good outcome to this. There is no happy ending in terms of everyone’s going to leave here feeling happy,” Boyd said.
“The world is not black and white. The world is shades of gray and, ultimately, we were left with the question of what do you do when the issue is one of bullying or one of a child who is so scared that he brings a knife to school to defend himself with?”
Nearly three years later, another Texas teen was violently killed while attending a high school track meet.
Karmelo Anthony, the 17-year-old accused of stabbing Frisco, Texas track star Austin Metcalf to death, was released from jail after his bond was dropped from $1 million to $250,000.
Like Allison, Anthony’s bond conditions include house arrest and an ankle monitor, and he will only be able to leave his home with the judge’s permission.
If convicted, Anthony cannot face the death penalty because he is a juvenile, thanks to a 2005 Supreme Court ruling in a case called Roper v. Simmons.
Fox News Digital reached out to Allison’s attorney for comment, but did not immediately receive a response.Â
Fox News Digital’s Lorraine Taylor and Peter D’Abrosca contributed to this report.Â
Stepheny Price is a writer for Fox News Digital and Fox Business. She covers topics including missing persons, homicides, national crime cases, illegal immigration, and more. Story tips and ideas can be sent to [email protected]
