South Carolina Jury Acquits Store Owner in 2023 Teen Shooting Case

On Monday, a South Carolina jury acquitted a store owner in the 2023 shooting of a Black teenager, Cyrus Carmack-Belton, who was 14 years old. Chikei Rick Chow, aged 61 and of Asian descent, shot the teen as he fled from a Columbia convenience store. Chow claimed he acted to protect his son.

The case sparked deep emotion in Richland County’s African American community, where nearly half the residents are Black. As the verdict was delivered, Carmack-Belton’s family openly expressed their grief. Meanwhile, Chow sat in silence, later lowering his head into his hands.

During the trial, prosecutors and defense presented different narratives of the 2023 incident. Prosecutors argued that Chow acted out of anger, mistakenly believing the teen had stolen water bottles. Defense attorney Shaun Kent contended that Chow fired in defense of his son, Andy, claiming Carmack-Belton threatened them with a gun.

Although prosecutors admitted the teen possessed a semiautomatic pistol, they argued it was dropped during the chase and was no threat. Chow, they said, pursued Carmack-Belton over 130 yards from the store. Coroner Nadia Rutherford reported that the teen died from a gunshot wound in the back, indicative of fleeing.

Solicitor Byron E. Gipson emphasized Chow’s decision to shoot, questioning the value placed on life. Numerous witnesses testified that Carmack-Belton did not brandish a firearm as he fled.

The store shooting led to public vigils and protests. At one vigil, empty water bottles spelled out “Cyrus.” Before this case, Chow had been involved in other shooting incidents at his store, previously described by officials as self-defense. Between 2018 and 2023, police responded to many incidents at Chow’s business, including theft and vandalism.