While the case of Karmelo Anthony, a Texas high school student charged with murder during a track meet, is receiving wide attention, another similar case is unfolding more quietly.
The trial of Caysen Allison, now 21, who admitted to fatally stabbing a fellow student in a school bathroom in 2022, officially began this week.
Both incidents involve tragic deaths of teenagers in school-related violence, and both suspects were granted bail after being initially held on $1 million bonds. However, there are important differences in how these cases unfolded.
What Happened in the Caysen Allison Case?
In May 2022, an 18-year-old student named Joe Luis Ramirez Jr. was stabbed inside a boys’ bathroom at Belton High School in Texas. The person accused of the crime, Caysen Allison, confessed to the stabbing and has been under house arrest since July 2022.
According to an affidavit reported by People, Allison fatally stabbed Ramirez multiple times—in the chest, back, legs, and arm. A school nurse tried to save Ramirez before he was taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Self-Defense or Murder?
During the trial’s opening statements this week, Allison’s defense lawyer argued that he acted in self-defense. The lawyer claimed that Ramirez and a group of friends had cornered Allison and that he used the knife to protect himself.
On Tuesday, jurors were shown a video of the incident. It captured Ramirez throwing a punch at Allison, who then swung back with a knife. The footage shows other students running out of the bathroom as the situation escalated.
Caysen Allison’s Bail and Possible Sentence
After being charged, Allison’s bail was reduced from $1 million to $175,000, which he posted to remain under house arrest. If found guilty, he faces a sentence ranging from five to 99 years in prison.
Karmelo Anthony’s Case: A Similar Tragedy
Earlier this month, Karmelo Anthony was charged with murder after stabbing fellow student Austin Metcalf during a track meet in Frisco, Texas. Metcalf later died in hospital. Like Allison, Anthony’s bail was also reduced from $1 million, and he is currently under house arrest after posting $250,000 bail.
Unlike the Ramirez case, Metcalf did not leave the scene before succumbing to his injuries. The similarities between the two cases have drawn attention, but Allison’s trial has received less media coverage so far.