Nationwide — Cyrus Carmack-Belton, a 14-year-old African American boy from Columbia, South Carolina, was shot and killed by a local store owner after being accused of shoplifting. However, authorities have confirmed that the teenager did not steal anything.The incident happened on May 28 when Carmack-Belton reportedly entered the Shell Gas station on Parklane Road. Store owner Rick Chow, who is 58 years old, accused the young boy of shoplifting 4 bottles of water.
After a verbal confrontation, Carmack-Belton left the store running, chased after by Chow’s son and the store owner himself, who was armed with a pistol. Their chase got to a nearby apartment complex where the victim stumbled and fell but quickly got up.
According to witnesses, Chow’s son told his father that the teen had a gun, causing Chow to shoot him in the back. Authorities later found a gun near the victim’s body, but confirmed that it was not aimed at Chow or his son.
“Rick Chow shot this young man in the back and he killed him and he is going to be appropriately charged with murder,” Richland County Sheriff Leon Lott said during a news conference, according to CBS News.
Carmack-Belton was taken to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Autopsy results show the gunshot wound caused hemorrhaging and severe injuries to the young boy’s heart.
“This is not an accidental shooting by any means. This was a very intentional shooting,” Richland County Coroner Nadia Rutherford said.
Moreover, authorities said that there was no evidence that Carmack-Belton stole anything. He had only touched the bottles before putting them back in the cooler, refuting Chow’s accusations.
Chow was arrested and charged with murder on the day following the shooting. He is currently being held at the Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center in Columbia.
Meanwhile, the incident has sparked widespread outrage in the community, with protests erupting at the gas station. During the protests, however, a separate group of individuals vandalized the store, breaking its glass and stealing items. Lott guarantees the looters will be arrested.