South Carolina Jury Finds Store Owner Not Guilty in 2023 Shooting of Teen

A jury in South Carolina reached a not guilty verdict for Chikei Rick Chow, a 61-year-old Asian store owner, in the murder of a 14-year-old named Cyrus Carmack-Belton. The incident took place in 2023 when Chow shot the teen in the back, following a chase from his convenience store in Columbia. Chow maintained he acted in defense of his son.

The verdict brought visible distress to Carmack-Belton’s family in the courtroom, with sobs echoing after the announcement. Chow appeared stunned, eventually bowing his head.

During closing arguments, the prosecution and defense offered contrasting views. Prosecutors argued Chow acted out of anger, mistakenly believing the teen had stolen water bottles. The defense countered, claiming Chow fired to protect his son, Andy Chow, after the teen allegedly pointed a gun at Andy.

Defense attorney Shaun Kent emphasized that the case was about a father’s decision when facing perceived danger to his child. Kent stated that Andy’s testimony indicated the teen had pointed a gun at him.

The prosecution acknowledged Carmack-Belton carried a semiautomatic pistol, yet asserted it fell during the chase and was never used to threaten anyone. They underscored that Chow pursued the teen over 130 yards from the store.

Solicitor Byron E. Gipson noted the lack of any fight inside the store preceding the chase. Richland County Coroner Nadia Rutherford confirmed the teen died from a gunshot wound, consistent with being in flight. Gipson presented a bottle of water to jurors, suggesting Chow valued goods over a human life.

Nobody testified that happened that doesn’t have the last name Chow.

The 2023 shooting sparked community vigils and protests. In one vigil, water bottles were arranged to spell ‘Cyrus.’

Chow’s past includes previous incidents, where he reportedly acted in self-defense during confrontations with shoplifters at his Xpress Mart Shell station. The police recorded hundreds of service calls to his store between 2018 and 2023 for various alleged crimes.