A heart-wrenching trip to support a cancer-stricken best friend turned to tragedy in Houston when Texas woman Marietta Allison was shot and killed in an apparent carjacking. Allison had traveled from Austin to be with her friend, Cassie Daniel, for Daniel’s second treatment for stage 4 ovarian cancer.
The day started with Allison providing loving care, spoon-feeding Daniel a fruit bowl while he received chemotherapy at the hospital. Daniel recalled this tender moment, saying, “Love like this exists.” She reflected on the “tender care, compassion, empathy and just the love that was there,” noting it was a precious moment she had no idea would be one of her last with Allison.
Per Fox News, after a long day at the hospital, the two friends left around 10:30 PM to spend the night at a nearby friend’s house. When they couldn’t find parking at the building, Allison dropped Daniel and her father off, then circled the block to find a spot for the car. Moments later, the peace of the evening was shattered.
Allison was the best type of friend
Daniel recounted the horrifying experience. “We were putting our things away, and I heard a scream and then a gunshot,” she said. “I felt like something large dropped to the floor, and I was like, ‘Was that a gunshot?’” Soon after, Daniel realized Allison hadn’t returned. “Have you heard from Marietta?” a friend asked, after trying to call Allison with no answer.
Feeling a terrible dread, Daniel went to the last known location of Allison’s phone. There, she found Allison lying on the sidewalk, surrounded by police officers. Paramedics were already attending to her, and Daniel could see Allison’s purse on the sidewalk. Her wallet was still there, but the vehicle Allison had been driving was missing.
Authorities quickly launched a search for the apparent carjacker and the stolen car while Allison’s loved ones watched helplessly as she was transported to a hospital. Sadly, she later died from her injuries. Daniel shared the devastating news: “She was almost instantly killed, if not just a few seconds later. She was shot kind of through the neck and through the head.”
A brief search led officers to 18-year-old Darius DeWayne Hall, who was allegedly driving Allison’s stolen vehicle. This discovery sparked a high-speed chase. Hall eventually crashed the vehicle along the Southwest Freeway and attempted to flee on foot, which escalated into an hours-long standoff in a nearby residential area. Hall was ultimately taken into custody and has since been charged with capital murder in connection with Allison’s death.
In the immediate aftermath, Daniel is focusing on remembering her best friend’s loving spirit and the compassion Allison showed in her final moments. This high-speed chase will lead to justice. However, for Gabriella Cartagena, who went missing in February, the capture of the suspect only created new questions. But for one Uber customer, it got her work trip back on track.
Published: Mar 30, 2026 11:45 am