A South Carolina jury has found Chikei Rick Chow, 61, not guilty of murder in the 2023 fatal shooting of 14-year-old Cyrus Carmack-Belton.
The verdict was delivered on Monday in Columbia, South Carolina.
Incident Details
The shooting occurred outside Chow's Xpress Mart Shell convenience store in Columbia. Chow shot Carmack-Belton in the back after chasing him from the store. According to the Richland County Coroner, Carmack-Belton died from a gunshot wound to the right lower back, a location consistent with a person running away.
The teenager, who was Black, was in possession of a semiautomatic pistol at the time. Chow, who is Asian, is the owner of the store.
Arguments at Trial
The prosecution and defense presented differing accounts of the events leading to the shooting.
Prosecution's Case:
Prosecutors argued that Chow acted out of anger because he believed Carmack-Belton had stolen four bottles of water. They stated that while the teenager had a semiautomatic pistol, it fell to the ground during the chase and that he never threatened anyone with it. Prosecutor Byron E. Gipson argued that Chow chased the teen over 130 yards before shooting. Multiple witnesses who are not members of the Chow family did not report seeing Carmack-Belton holding a gun or pointing one.
Defense's Case:
Defense attorneys Jack Swerling and Shaun Kent argued that Chow acted in defense of his son, Andy Chow. They stated that Chow fired his weapon only after seeing Carmack-Belton point a gun at his son. The defense cited testimony from Andy Chow, who stated that the teenager pointed a gun at him.
Trial Outcomes and Reactions
Following the jury's not guilty verdict, sobs and cries were heard from the courtroom, coming from the family of Cyrus Carmack-Belton. Chow remained silent and bowed his head.
After the trial, defense lawyer Jack Swerling stated he felt for the family but criticized the teenager for carrying a loaded pistol. Prosecutor Byron E. Gipson stated that Chow valued property over a human life, referencing the alleged theft of the water bottles.
Background
The fatal shooting prompted vigils and protests within the community, including one where empty water bottles were arranged to spell "Cyrus."
Court records indicate that Chow had been involved in two previous shooting incidents at his store, both of which were ruled self-defense. Between 2018 and 2023, police officers responded to hundreds of calls for service at Chow's store, including reports of assaults, theft, and robbery.