South Carolina Jury Deliberates in Chikei Chow Murder Trial Over 14-Year-Old's 2023 Shooting
Updated
Updated · South Carolina Public Radio · Jun 2
South Carolina Jury Deliberates in Chikei Chow Murder Trial Over 14-Year-Old's 2023 Shooting
12 articles · Updated · South Carolina Public Radio · Jun 2
Jurors in Columbia began deliberating Monday after closing arguments in the murder trial of store owner Chikei Rick Chow, who admits shooting 14-year-old Cyrus Carmack-Belton in the back during a 2023 chase.
Prosecutors said Chow wrongly believed the teen stole four bottles of water, chased him more than 130 yards and fired unprovoked, arguing surveillance would have shown no theft and witnesses saw no gun in the teen's hands.
Defense lawyers said Chow made a split-second decision to protect his son after Carmack-Belton pointed a pistol at him, and argued Chow's attempt to perform CPR showed he acted without malice.
The killing of the Black teenager sparked vigils and lasting anger in Richland County's African American community, where prosecutors cast the case as valuing property over a human life.
A teen was shot in the back over suspected theft. What evidence led a jury to rule it self-defense?
How does this verdict redefine the boundaries of self-defense laws for American business owners?
With the trial over and a community divided, what can be done now to prevent the next tragedy?
South Carolina Jury Acquits Store Owner in 2023 Shooting of Black Teen: The Chikei Rick Chow Trial, Community Outrage, and Calls for Reform
Overview
In May 2023, Rick Chow accused 14-year-old Cyrus Carmack-Belton of theft, chased him from his store, and fatally shot him during the pursuit. This incident deeply affected Richland County’s African American community, causing widespread grief and anger. Prosecutors argued that Chow acted out of anger and wrongly believed Carmack-Belton had stolen water, emphasizing the long chase. The defense claimed Carmack-Belton pointed a gun at Chow’s son. In May 2026, a jury found Chow not guilty, a verdict that intensified community anguish and raised questions about justice, self-defense laws, and the value placed on human life.