Nationwide — Chikei Rick Chow, an Asian convenience store owner accused in the 2023 fatal shooting of 14-year-old Cyrus Carmack-Belton, who is Black, was found not guilty of murder.
The verdict came from a murder trial tied to a 2023 shooting outside Chow’s convenience store in Columbia, South Carolina. Prosecutors said Chow chased the teen for more than 130 yards after an incident inside the shop and shot him in the back.
During the trial, prosecutors argued Chow acted after wrongly believing the teen had stolen water bottles. They said Carmack-Belton ran from the store, dropped a pistol during the chase, and never threatened anyone with it. One prosecutor told jurors, “Chased a kid down, shot him in the back.”
According to NBC News, Chow’s defense team gave a different account. They said he acted to protect his son during a fast-moving confrontation. His lawyer said Chow believed the teen had pointed a gun at his son and made a split-second decision in response to what he saw as a threat.
After the verdict was read, emotions ran high in the courtroom. Family members of Cyrus Carmack-Belton cried in the gallery. Chow remained seated, silent, and bowed his head. Defense attorney Jack Swerling said he understood the family’s pain but supported the jury’s decision.
“My heart goes out to them, but 14-year-old kid should not be roaming the streets of Columbia or South Carolina with semiautomatic pistol loaded and ready to fire,” he said.
The case had already drawn widespread attention in Richland County. Community members held vigils and protests outside the store in 2023, including one where water bottles were arranged to spell out “Cyrus.” The shooting added to ongoing tension and grief in the area.