Full Breakdown
Murder Trial Begins for South Carolina Store Owner Who Shot Black Teen
5/28/2026, 2:53:20 AM
Incident Overview
On May 28, 2023, at the Xpress Mart Shell station store in Columbia, South Carolina, 61-year-old owner Chikei Rick Chow shot 14-year-old Cyrus Carmack-Belton in the back during a foot chase. Chow said he fired because he believed the teen had stolen four bottles of water and was threatening his son, Andy.
Background & Context
The teen entered around 8 p.m. wearing a hoodie and a backpack, left the backpack at the front per store policy, and took four bottles from a cooler before returning them. Surveillance showed staff watching him with suspicion, leading to an argument when he denied the alleged theft and left with his backpack, prompting Chow and Andy to pursue him.
Data & Statistics
Richland County is nearly 50 % Black. The chase covered about 130 yards (119 meters). A semiautomatic pistol with a laser sight was recovered near the teen’s body, but investigators found no evidence it was aimed at Chow or Andy. Four water bottles were involved; the teen was 14, the shooter 61.
Official Statements & Responses
Prosecutor Byron E. Gipson called the shooting unprovoked and “heinous,” noting the teen never threatened anyone with his pistol. Defense attorney Jack Swerling argued the shooting was a split-second act of self-defense, claiming the teen pointed the laser-sighted pistol at Andy, creating an imminent danger. A police officer testified the pistol fell during the chase and was not used to fire. The trial is expected to last several days.
Criticism & Opposition
Richland County community leaders voiced grief and highlighted racial inequities, emphasizing that a Black teen was killed by an Asian-American store owner. The prosecutor’s labeling of the act as “heinous” underscores criticism that the shooting was unnecessary and reflects broader tensions.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Prosecutors say the teen never pointed his pistol at Chow or Andy and that the alleged theft involved four bottles that were returned. Defense claims the teen aimed the laser-sighted pistol at Andy, creating a perceived threat. Investigators found the firearm near the teen’s body but report no evidence it was directed at either adult. The precise sequence of the teen’s actions during the chase remains disputed.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, what is the value of a human life?” — Byron E. Gipson, Prosecutor, Richland County Solicitor’s Office
- “If he didn’t have that weapon, he never would have had a weapon to draw on Andy Chow,” — Jack Swerling, Defense Attorney for Chikei Rick Chow
- “Nobody’s saying everybody’s happy about this, but unfortunately there are occasions in human life when someone has to exercise that right of self-defense or defense of others,” — Jack Swerling, Defense Attorney
- “It’s sad. It's tragic. There’s no question about that. My heart goes out to the family. They suffered a tremendous loss.” — Jack Swerling, Defense Attorney
