A jury in Columbia, South Carolina found 61‑year‑old Chikei Rick Chow not guilty of murder in the 2023 shooting of 14‑year‑old Cyrus Carmack‑Belton, a Black youth who was struck in the back during a chase from Chow’s convenience store.
Chow, an Asian store owner, testified that he fired because he believed his son was in danger after Carmack‑Belton pointed a semi‑automatic pistol at him. Prosecutors argued the teen had stolen several bottles of water and that Chow was acting in anger, not self‑defense.
The verdict sent shockwaves through Richland County, where nearly half the population is African‑American, and elicited a mixture of grief and anger from families, community leaders and local politicians.
During the verdict reading, tears and sobbing were audible from Carmack‑Belton’s family in the gallery, while Chow sat stoically before slowly lowering his head to the hands interlocked on his lap.
Defense attorney Jack Swerling expressed relief for his client but also sympathy for the victim’s family: “My heart goes out to them, but a 14‑year‑old should not be walking the streets of Columbia with a gun ready to fire.”
State Representative and attorney Todd Rutherford stood beside Carmack‑Belton’s father and criticized the verdict as demeaning to Black youth: “This makes us feel as if our children don’t matter and they do.” He indicated a civil lawsuit would be filed.
Prosecutors described a long pursuit—more than 130 yards—from the store, and insisted the firearm had fallen to the ground during the chase and was never brandished. They said witnesses didn’t see the teen point a gun at Chow.
In closing arguments, Shaun Kent, the defense attorney, reframed the case as a father’s urgent decision when a son was threatened: “This case is not about shoplifting; it’s about a parent who saw a gun pointed at his son.”
The incident triggered vigils and protests outside the shop, with community members arranging empty water bottles to spell out “Cyrus” during a 2023 vigil. The lingering question remains: what measures will be adopted to prevent similar tragedies in South Carolina? The decision of the jury underscores the gravity and complexity of gun‑related legal battles in the state and beyond.}
