‘An amazing soul’ | Friends mourn Texas woman killed while helping friend through cancer treatment

HOUSTON — Loved ones are mourning the death of a beloved Austin woman who Houston police say was shot and killed over the weekend in the Heights.

Friends said Marietta Allison was in Houston helping a friend when her life was taken. Close friends remember Allison as a kind and selfless woman.

“Marietta was so rooted in love for every single person on this planet, regardless of what walk of life you came from, what your background was, what your skin color was,” D.L., one of Allison’s friends, said. “She has touched so many lives. The ripple of who she was will continue to live on far beyond her. She’s impacted so many of us in so many powerful, profound ways.”

Karin Galindo, another friend, added, “She was, is, an amazing soul. A bright, bright light in this world. Lived her life to the fullest, in abundance. Lived her life like every day was her last, really.”

But that life was cut short.

The Houston Police Department said Allison was shot late Friday night on West 20th Street in the Heights.

Loved ones told KHOU 11 that Allison lived in Austin but had traveled to Houston to help a friend with a chemotherapy appointment at MD Anderson Cancer Center. After dropping her friend off at another friend’s apartment, Allison parked and was walking there as well when the shooting happened.

The suspect, 18-year-old Darius Hall, appeared in court Monday and is charged with capital murder, as well as evading arrest and tampering with evidence. A judge denied him bond, and he remains in the Harris County Jail. Court records show Hall was on community supervision at the time of the killing.

Prosecutors said Hall attempted to rob Allison before shooting her.

“He proceeded to try to rob her and steal her purse. The complainant fought back. He then produced a firearm and shot her in the neck,” prosecutors said during the hearing.

According to police, Hall then took Allison’s vehicle and led officers on a chase before barricading himself inside a townhouse complex near the Southwest Freeway and Buffalo Speedway. Officers took him into custody hours later.

Allison had traveled to Houston with her best friend, Cassie Daniel, who was undergoing her first chemotherapy treatment after being diagnosed with stage four ovarian cancer earlier this year.

Daniel said Allison had been caring for her since the diagnosis.

“Her number one mission was to help me beat this cancer,” Daniel said.

Allison had even insisted Daniel move in with her and her husband in Austin so she could help care for her during treatment.

“She was even putting some of their work on hold depending when my surgery was going to be so that she could take care of me,” Daniel said. “That’s not normal. That kind of love is not what you experience every day.”

After Daniel finished chemotherapy late Friday night, the two drove to a friend’s apartment in the Heights near West 20th Street and Lawrence Street, where they planned to stay.

A friend directed Allison to park around the corner.

“She said, ‘OK, I’ll park the car. I’ll be right back,’” Daniel recalled.

Seconds later, Daniel said they heard a scream followed by a gunshot.

Police said Allison was shot in the neck during a carjacking. She later died at the hospital.

“She died because she was helping a friend fighting cancer,” Daniel said.

Court records show Hall was already on community supervision for several charges, including aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. That is not sitting well with Allison’s loved ones.

“What is going on with our system? What is happening?” D.L. said. “Why is he not getting something to make sure that he’s not out there doing that?”

Daniel said Allison’s kindness and selflessness continue to motivate her as she faces cancer treatment.

“The devil picked the wrong person,” she said. “Because I was fighting for me, but now there’s so much more to fight for.”

Daniel said she plans to honor Allison’s memory by continuing her fight against cancer — inspired by the love her friend showed even in the final hours of her life.

“During my chemo that night she spoon-fed me my fruit bowl because I hadn’t eaten in like 12 hours,” Daniel said. “Even at that moment I realized the amount of selfless love that was being poured into me. I just had no idea how great of a gift it truly was.”

Hall is expected back in court on March 23.

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