A jury found a teenager not guilty of murder after he fatally stabbed another student during a fight at school.
Caysen Allison, 21, waived his right to self-incrimination and admitted to killing Jose Luis Ramirez Jr., 18, on May 3, 2022 at Belton High School, according to an arrest affidavit obtained by PEOPLE.
In both his opening and closing statements, defense attorney Zachary Boyd argued that Allison’s actions that day were entirely justified in self-defense after being forced to fight Ramirez and a group of his friends.
That argument appeared to resonate with jurors, who, given the option of convicting Allison of murder, manslaughter, or criminally negligent homicide, chose the lesser of the three charges: criminally negligent homicide.
The jury deliberated for 12 hours in total before returning their verdict.
According to court records, Allison will return to court on June 19 for a sentencing hearing, where he could face anywhere from 6 months to 2 years in a state jail facility, as well as a $10,000 fine.
Allison will remain free on bond until the hearing.
During the trial, jurors were shown a recording made by one of Ramirez’s friends that showed the men fighting and stabbing each other.
According to court documents, Ramirez is seen throwing a punch at Allison in that recording, and Allison responds with a knife in his hand.
The video then ends with Allison allegedly cornering Ramirez, at which point the other teenagers all flee the bathroom.
According to the arrest affidavit, Ramirez exited the bathroom and collapsed in the hallway, as captured by school security cameras.
The video also showed blood pooling beneath his body, according to the affidavit.
Despite the efforts of a school nurse, who rushed to Ramirez and began providing life-saving care, the teenager died shortly after arriving at a local hospital.
According to the autopsy report, Ramirez suffered stab wounds in his chest, back, legs, and arm.
Allison was arrested that same day after police questioned him at his home. According to the affidavit, Allison confessed to the crime and told a detective where he could find the knife he used to stab Ramirez.
The Bell County Attorney’s Office, which prosecuted the case, and Allison’s lawyer did not return requests for comment.