Belton High Schoolers Honor Memory of Fallen Friend and Classmate
Students at Belton High School have come together after one of their fellow students was lost to a stabbing committed by another student on May 3, 2022.
KWTX reports that the stabbing occurred at 9:47 AM at Belton High School. The suspect, Caysen Tyler Allison, and the victim, Joe Ramirez, Jr. got into an altercation in the bathroom. Allison then stabbed Ramirez and reportedly fled the school.
The school was placed on lockdown while police searched for Caysen. Authorities then apprehended Allison at 10:09 AM and arrested him.
The school released at students at noon following the incident.
Ramirez, Jr. shortly passed away later in the day on Tuesday.
Benton ISD issued the following in regards to Ramirez's passing:
"Our community is devastated to lose one of our students, Jose Ramirez, Jr.
- Administrators are working with Belton Police Department to ensure our students are able to return to school as swiftly and safely as possible.
- We are fully cooperating with law enforcement authorities as they continue the investigation.
- We are partnering with community services, as well as our own counseling staff, to appropriately meet the needs of students and staff as they cope with yesterday's events.
BISD will share additional information, including a decision about holding school for Belton High School, via email later today. Our primary goal is to take care of students, staff, and community."
According to KWTX, students joined together at Christ the King Church to hold a mass and special rosary for Ramirez.
Students interviewed by KTWX remembered him as the friend who always there to make someone happy.
Martin Martinez, a senior at Belton High, said, “Everybody just wants to remember him as Joe, the person that would also make you smile, bring you up, make a dull moment bright again.”
Martinez also stated that, "He was always that person, that even when you didn’t see him, you knew he was there. He’d always crack a smile, always make you smile.”
For those wishing to donate to Rameriz's family, a GoFundMe has been set which you can donate to here.