COLUMBIA, S.C. — A jury trial began Wednesday for former convenience store owner Rick Chow, who is accused of fatally shooting 14-year-old Cyrus Carmack-Belton three years ago. The case, The State of South Carolina vs. Rick Chow, opened with a packed courtroom at the Richland County Courthouse.
Jury Selection and Opening Statements
After a full day of jury vetting and selection, 12 jurors of varying ages and racial backgrounds were seated. Circuit Court Judge Heath Taylor outlined the jurors’ role and legal responsibilities, while 5th Circuit Solicitor Byron Gipson delivered the state’s opening statements.
Gipson told jurors, “Rick Chow… determined that Cyrus Carmack-Belton’s life was worth less than four bottles of water,” referencing the alleged reason for the confrontation.
Incident Background
In May 2023, Chow was charged with murder after he and his son, Andy Chow, chased Carmack-Belton from a Shell gas station at 7441 Parklane Road, falsely suspecting the teen of stealing bottled water.
The central issue is whether Chow acted in self-defense or in defense of his son when he fired a .45 caliber Glock handgun, striking Carmack-Belton in the back.
Chow was previously denied immunity under South Carolina’s Stand Your Ground Law, with Judge Scott Sprouse ruling that he was not acting in self-defense during the pursuit and shooting.
Defense Argument
Chow’s defense team, including attorneys Jack Swerling, Shaun Kent, and Joe McCulloch, contend that Chow acted out of fear for his son’s life. During opening remarks, Swerling emphasized that Carmack-Belton was allegedly carrying a fully loaded 9mm semi-automatic pistol illegally and argued that jurors would not see evidence the teen threatened Andy directly.
Swerling asked, “What was a 14-year-old doing walking around Columbia with a semi-automatic 9mm weapon … illegally walking into a store that bars people from coming in with weapons?”
Witness Testimony
The state’s first witness was former Richland County Sheriff’s Deputy Derrick English, who responded to the shooting and interviewed Chow and his son. English testified that neither Chow nor Andy indicated that Carmack-Belton had pointed a gun prior to the shooting. Evidence confirmed that Chow never saw a gun, only hearing about it from his son.
Lori Ann Carson, a witness at the scene, testified that she saw Chow and Andy chasing the teen as he ran away. She described Carmack-Belton as frightened and said she did not see any weapon in his hands. Carson tearfully recounted her attempts to help the teen after the shooting.
What’s Next
Both sides plan to call additional witnesses, including experts, and the trial could extend into next week. It remains unclear whether Chow will testify.
The state is represented by Solicitor Gipson, senior assistant solicitor Dale Scott, and assistant solicitors Stephanie Taylor and Weston Liefer. If convicted, Rick Chow faces a minimum sentence of 30 years in prison.
