On Monday, Allison’s friend, Chris Bittle, testified about text messages exchanged with Allison, including one sent following a prom after-party where a confrontation happened between Allison and Ramirez. The confrontation reportedly occurred after Allison behaved aggressively toward a girl who was dating one of Ramirez’s friends.
Prosecutors cited the altercation as the catalyst for the May 3, 2022, fight that ended in Ramirez’s death, NBC 6 reports. Ramirez and Allison agreed to have a fight at a later date, according to witnesses, before they bumped into each in the school bathroom.
After the party, Allison texted Bittle about getting a gun before the fatal encounter. On the day of the fight, Bittle told Allison he would be there if they needed another person to confront Ramirez.
Bittle said he and Allison received Snapchat messages warning they might be ambushed or “jumped” at school. However, during cross-examination, no evidence was presented to support the alleged threat.
Bittle added that they hadn’t planned to fight Ramirez in the bathroom, and claimed Ramirez and his stepbrother, Josh Rios, provoked the confrontation, while Allison told them he didn’t want to fight. He said he stepped in to prevent Rios from joining the altercation, describing Rios as someone known for jumping others.
Bittle also stated no one with Ramirez made an effort to stop the fight. He said he feared Ramirez and his group, worried they might retaliate.
Bittle said Ramirez and his group also were known to escalate fights into group assaults, and sometimes had firearms. He denied ever hearing Allison threaten Ramirez.
He said Ramirez and Rios made several threats during the bathroom encounter. When pressed on why he and Allison didn’t walk away, Bittle said the two blocked their exit and wouldn’t let them leave, even locking the bathroom door.
Ramirez’s former girlfriend, Madison Barnes, then took the stand and said, although she dated Ramirez for a few years, she had a close relationship with Allison.
Barnes testified that she was aware of rising tensions between Allison and Ramirez following the after-party. She told the court Allison had said he planned to fight Ramirez
Barnes said the fight was supposed to happen off campus and recalled Allison saying he wanted Ramirez “on life support.”
She said she had no knowledge of a claim that Ramirez punched someone else before the incident.
The defense noted that Barnes did not witness the bathroom fight but claimed she “couldn’t wait to come and testify.” Prosecutors objected, but the judge overruled it, calling the comment argumentative.
Previous Video Coverage
Last week, former Belton High School students, Tito Shamel and Angel Morillo testified. They were two of the six people, including Allison and Ramirez, inside the restroom when the fight began.
Shamel testified that he had a close friendship with Ramirez and saw the confrontation as it unfolded in the restroom. He told the court he recorded part of the incident on his phone.
Jurors viewed the video footage in court on Tuesday, according to KWTX.
Shamel said the video showed Ramirez throwing a punch at Allison. He said the footage then showed Allison pulling out a knife before a loud scream is heard and the video shuts off.
Reina Barber, a friend of Allison and acquaintance of Ramirez, also testified. She said she attempted to defuse the situation by calming Ramirez shortly before the fight began.
Barber said Ramirez and his friends had a reputation for getting into fights, adding that Ramirez often wanted his fights filmed.
Dr. Grant Hendon from the Dallas County Forensic Sciences Office testified Thursday that Ramirez had four stab wounds following the fight. The knife damaged Ramirez’s left lung, heart, and coronary arteries. He also had stab wounds on his buttocks and left arm.
Allison has pleaded not guilty and has been on house arrest since 2022. An additional charge was filed against him a few days after the stabbing, after he “allegedly assaulted a family member.”
If convicted, he could face life behind bars.
The trial continues. Check back for updates.
[Feature Photos: Joe Ramirez/Handout; Caysen Allison/Benton County PD]
