COLUMBIA, S.C. (Diya TV) — A South Carolina jury has acquitted convenience store owner Chikei “Rick” Chow of murder in the 2023 shooting death of 14-year-old Cyrus Carmack-Belton, a case that drew national attention and sparked protests across the Columbia area.
The jury returned a not-guilty verdict Sunday after hearing arguments about whether Chow acted in defense of his son during a confrontation that began outside a convenience store. The decision has reignited debate over self-defense laws, race, and the use of deadly force. Cyrus, a Black teenager who had recently graduated from eighth grade, died after Chow shot him in the back during a chase outside a gas station convenience store on May 28, 2023.
Chow, 61, faced one count of murder in the death of Cyrus Carmack-Belton. Prosecutors argued that Chow pursued the teen after wrongly suspecting him of stealing water bottles from the store. They said Cyrus never threatened anyone with a firearm. Defense attorneys presented a different account. They argued that Chow fired his weapon because he believed Cyrus posed an immediate threat to his adult son.
The trial focused heavily on one key question: Did Cyrus point a gun at Chow’s son during the chase? Prosecutors acknowledged that Cyrus possessed a handgun. However, they maintained that he never brandished or pointed it at anyone.
Defense attorneys argued that Cyrus picked up the gun after it fell from his pocket during the chase and then pointed it toward Chow’s son. They said Chow acted to protect his child from what he believed was a deadly threat. After the verdict, Chow showed little visible reaction in court. Defense attorney Jack Swerling said the family was pleased with the jury’s decision but also expressed sympathy for Cyrus’ family.
Authorities said Cyrus entered the Shell gas station Xpress Mart convenience store around 8 p.m. on Memorial Day weekend in 2023. Investigators said the teenager picked up several water bottles from a cooler but later put them back. A verbal dispute followed after Chow suspected the teen of shoplifting.
According to investigators, Chow and his son chased Cyrus off the property and for roughly 130 yards. During the pursuit, Cyrus fell but continued running. Authorities said Chow then fired a single shot that struck Cyrus in the back. Emergency responders later pronounced the teen dead. Investigators recovered a handgun near Cyrus’ body. Richland County Sheriff Leon Lott said shortly after the shooting that evidence showed Cyrus did not point or brandish the weapon before he was shot. The county coroner ruled the death a homicide.
The shooting led to demonstrations outside the convenience store and drew widespread attention across the country. Community members gathered to demand justice for Cyrus. Protesters displayed signs bearing the message “Justice for Cyrus.” One protest later ended with vandalism and a break-in at the store. The case also raised questions about race and public safety in Richland County, where Black residents make up a significant portion of the population.
Authorities previously noted that Chow held a valid concealed weapons permit. Officials also reported hundreds of service calls to the gas station over several years, including incidents involving theft and confrontations with customers. Investigators said previous complaints against Chow included two incidents in which he fired a weapon after claiming he felt threatened. Authorities did not file charges in those earlier cases.
Cyrus’ family expressed disappointment following the acquittal. Attorney Todd Rutherford said the verdict left many supporters angry and frustrated. He argued that the legal system failed to deliver justice for the teenager. Rutherford urged community members to remain peaceful despite their disappointment. The family now plans to pursue a civil lawsuit against Chow.
“He took a life that he should not have,” Rutherford told reporters after the verdict.
Cyrus’ father, Troy Belton, declined to speak publicly after the trial concluded. While the criminal case has ended, the planned civil lawsuit means the legal battle surrounding the fatal shooting of Cyrus Carmack-Belton is likely far from over.
