Texas Teen Found Not Guilty of Murder, Convicted of Criminally Negligent Homicide in High School Stabbing Case

A Bell County jury has reached a verdict in the case of CAYSEN ALLISON, a Texas teenager accused of stabbing his classmate, JOE RAMIREZ JR., to death in a Belton High School bathroom in May 2022. After deliberating until Tuesday, the jury found CAYSEN ALLISON not guilty of murder but convicted him of criminally negligent homicide, KWTX reported.

CAYSEN ALLISON was released under the conditions of his bond and will remain free until his sentencing hearing on June 16. He faces a potential sentence of six months to two years in a state prison, along with a possible fine of up to $10,000.

The incident occurred during a fight in the school’s restroom, according to an arrest affidavit obtained by KWTX. CAYSEN ALLISON reportedly admitted to detectives that he fatally stabbed JOE RAMIREZ JR. Officers found RAMIREZ JR. with multiple stab wounds to his chest, back, legs, and arm. He was rushed to a hospital but was later pronounced dead.

During the trial, testimonies revealed tensions between the two teens. CHRIS BITTLE, a friend of ALLISON, testified that a heated argument occurred between ALLISON and RAMIREZ JR. at a prom night afterparty. Text messages showed that ALLISON had asked BITTLE to bring him a gun. On the day of the stabbing, BITTLE claimed they did not plan to fight at school but were confronted by RAMIREZ JR. and his friends in the restroom. BITTLE also testified that he attempted to intervene when RAMIREZ JR. punched ALLISON but was struck by one of the other teens.

ALLISON’S defense argued that he acted in self-defense during a life-threatening altercation. Witnesses, including MADISON BARNES, RAMIREZ JR.’S ex-girlfriend and a close friend of ALLISON, testified that ALLISON had made threats against RAMIREZ JR. prior to the stabbing.

ZACHARY BOYD, ALLISON’S defense attorney, expressed satisfaction with the jury’s decision, calling it a fair outcome in a complex case. “The world is not black and white. The world is shades of gray,” BOYD stated. “Ultimately, we were left with the question of bullying and a child who was so scared that he brought a knife to school to defend himself.”

The case has drawn comparisons to a recent incident involving KARMELO ANTHONY, a 17-year-old accused of stabbing Frisco track star AUSTIN METCALF to death. Like ALLISON, ANTHONY was released on bond under house arrest and cannot face the death penalty due to his juvenile status.

JOE RAMIREZ JR., a senior at Belton High School, was remembered on a GoFundMe page as a “very kind, loving, and gentle young man.”

Fox News Digital reached out to ALLISON’S attorney for comment but did not immediately receive a response.

**Sources:**
[KWTX](https://www.kwtx.com)
[Fox News Digital](https://www.foxnews.com)