A South Carolina jury has found a convenience store owner not guilty of murder in the 2023 shooting death of 14-year-old Cyrus Carmack-Belton.
Store Owner Acquitted
Chikei Rick Chow, 61, was acquitted on June 1 following a trial in Richland County. He had been charged with murder after fatally shooting Cyrus outside his convenience store.
Prosecutors argued that Chow chased the teenager and shot him after wrongly suspecting him of stealing four bottles of water.
Dispute Over What Happened
During the trial, prosecutors said Cyrus was running away when he was shot. They also argued that although the teen had a semiautomatic pistol, he never pointed it at anyone.
Defense attorneys maintained that Chow acted to protect his son after believing the teenager had pointed a gun at him.
Family Reacts to Verdict
Following the verdict, Cyrus’ family expressed disappointment and said they plan to pursue a civil lawsuit.
The shooting sparked protests and community vigils after the teen’s death in 2023, drawing widespread attention across South Carolina.
Chow was acquitted of all murder charges in the case.
