South Carolina Jury Acquits Store Owner in 2023 Shooting Case

A jury in South Carolina has found a store owner, Chikei Rick Chow, not guilty of murder in the 2023 shooting of 14-year-old Cyrus Carmack-Belton. The incident took place in Columbia, causing significant distress in the African American community of Richland County, where a large portion of the population is Black.

Chow, 61, shot Carmack-Belton after an altercation outside his convenience store. The store owner, who is Asian, claimed he was defending his son. When the jury delivered the verdict, Carmack-Belton’s family was visibly upset, while Chow reacted by lowering his head into his hands.

During the trial, the prosecution and defense presented differing views on the events of the shooting. Prosecutors alleged that Chow acted out of anger under the misconception that the teenager had stolen water bottles. However, the defense argued the shooting was a defensive action due to a perceived threat from Carmack-Belton, who they claimed had pointed a gun at Chow’s son, Andy.

Prosecutors conceded the teenager possessed a semiautomatic pistol, yet contended it fell during the chase and was not used to threaten anyone. They advocated that Chow pursued Carmack-Belton over 130 yards from the store before shooting. Richland County Coroner Nadia Rutherford had previously stated that Carmack-Belton did not engage physically with Chow in the store prior to his attempt to flee. She confirmed the teenager died from a gunshot wound in his back, consistent with fleeing.

In his closing argument, Solicitor Byron E. Gipson placed emphasis on the chase and the teenager being shot while running away. He reminded jurors of testimony, indicating witnesses did not observe Carmack-Belton holding or aiming a weapon, apart from those bearing the surname Chow.

The shooting stirred community responses, including vigils and protests. In one vigil, empty water bottles were arranged to signify ‘Cyrus.’ Moreover, the history of Chow’s encounters with would-be thieves at his store has been noted. Previous shootings at the store were ruled self-defense. The store, having required police attention repeatedly for various incidents, intensified this tragic event’s impact on community peace.