Jurors did convict Caysen Allison of criminally negligent homicide, for which he faces a sentence of up to 2 years in jail
A teenager who fatally stabbed a fellow student during a fight at school was found not guilty of murder by a jury.
Caysen Allison, 21, waived his rights against self incrimination and confessed to killing Jose Luis Ramirez Jr., 18, on May 3, 2022 at Belton High School, according to an arrest affidavit obtained by PEOPLE.
Defense attorney Zachary Boyd argued in both his opening and closing statements that Allison’s actions that day were all in self-defense after he found himself being forced to fight Ramirez and a group of his friends.
That argument seemed to resonate with jurors who, given the option of convicting Allison of murder, manslaughter or criminally negligent homicide, opted for the lowest of those three charges: criminally negligent homicide.
The jury deliberated 12 hours in total before returning their verdict.
Allison will now be back in court on June 19 for a sentencing hearing, according to court records, at which time he will face anywhere from 6 months to 2 years in a state jail facility, as well as a fine of up to $10,000.
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Allison will remain free on bond until that hearing.
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During the trial, a recording made by one of Ramirez’s friends, showing the fight between the men and the stabbing, was presented to jurors.
Ramirez is allegedly seen throwing a punch at Allison in that recording, at which time Allison swings back at Ramirez with a knife in his hand, according to court documents.
The video then ends with Allison allegedly cornering Ramirez, at which time the other teenagers all fled from the bathroom.
Security cameras at the school then captured Ramirez leaving the bathroom and collapsing in the hallway, according to the arrest affidavit.
The video also showed blood pooling beneath his body, per the affidavit.
Despite the efforts of a school nurse, who rushed to Ramirez and began administering life-saving care, the teenager was pronounced dead soon after arriving at a local hospital.
An autopsy report said that Ramirez had stab wounds in his chest, back, legs and arm.
Police arrested Allison that same day after questioning him at his home, at which time Allison confessed to the crime and informed a detective where to find the knife he used to stab Ramirez, according to the affidavit.
The Bell County Attorney’s Office, who prosecuted the case, and Allison’s lawyer did not respond to requests for comment.
