By USA Daily Now 
BELL COUNTY, TX – A Bell County jury has reached a verdict in the case of CAYSEN ALLISON, the Texas teen charged in the fatal stabbing of his high school classmate, JOE RAMIREZ JR., in 2022. After deliberating on Monday and resuming on Tuesday, the jury found Allison not guilty of murder but convicted him of criminally negligent homicide, according to KWTX.
The incident occurred in May 2022 at Belton High School, where Ramirez Jr. was fatally stabbed during a fight in the school restroom. Allison, who fled the scene immediately after the altercation, was arrested 20 minutes later. He had been out on bond since July 2022 after his $1 million bond was reduced to $175,000.
According to the arrest affidavit, Ramirez Jr. sustained multiple stab wounds to his chest, back, legs, and arm and was pronounced dead at a local hospital. Allison reportedly admitted to detectives that he fatally stabbed Ramirez Jr. but claimed he acted in self-defense during the fight.
The defense argued that Allison was in fear for his life after being attacked by Ramirez and his friends in the bathroom. Cell phone video of the altercation showed that Allison attempted to leave the restroom but was blocked by Ramirez and his group.
CHRIS BITTLE, a friend of Allison, testified that there was a heated argument between Allison and Ramirez at a prom night after-party. Text messages revealed that Allison had asked Bittle to bring him a gun following the altercation. Bittle also recounted the events leading up to the stabbing, stating that Allison and Ramirez had planned to fight but were surprised to encounter each other in the school restroom.
MADISON BARNES, Ramirez Jr.’s ex-girlfriend and a close friend of Allison’s, testified that Allison had made threats against Ramirez before the stabbing, including expressing a desire to see him “on life support” and “in the hospital.”
Allison’s sentencing hearing is scheduled for June 16. He faces up to two years in state prison and a fine of up to $10,000. He was released under the conditions of his bond, which include house arrest with an ankle monitor.
ZACHARY BOYD, Allison’s defense attorney, expressed relief at the verdict, acknowledging the complexity of the case. “The world is not black and white. The world is shades of gray. 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?”
The case has drawn comparisons to another recent Texas high school stabbing involving KARMELO ANTHONY, who is accused of killing Frisco track star AUSTIN METCALF in 2023. Anthony, like Allison, was released on reduced bond and placed under house arrest.
Fox News Digital reached out to Allison’s attorney for comment but did not immediately receive a response.
For more details, visit [KWTX](https://www.kwtx.com) and [Fox News Digital](https://www.foxnews.com).