Full Breakdown
Jury Acquits South Carolina Store Owner in 2023 Shooting of 14-Year-Old
6/3/2026, 12:10:11 AM
The Trial and Verdict
On May 28 2023, Rick Chow, the owner of an Xpress Mart Shell station on Parklane Road in Columbia, South Carolina, shot 14-year-old Cyrus Carmack-Belton after a pursuit that left the teen more than 130 yards from the store. Chow was charged with murder 15 hours later. After a five-day trial, a 12-person jury deliberated for roughly eight hours on June 1 2026 and returned a unanimous “not guilty” verdict.
Key Figures
- Rick Chow (also reported as Chikei Rick Chow), 61, former convenience-store owner.
- Andy Chow, son of Rick Chow, who testified that his father was threatened.
- Cyrus Carmack-Belton, 14-year-old Black teen who was shot in the back.
- Todd Rutherford, state representative and attorney for the Carmack-Belton family.
- Byron E. Gipson, 5th Circuit solicitor for Richland County.
- Shaun Kent, defense attorney for Chow.
- Jack Swerling, defense attorney for Chow.
- Dale Scott, senior assistant solicitor for the state.
- Dr. Amy Durso, forensic pathologist who performed the autopsy.
Data & Statistics
- The alleged theft involved four bottles of water.
- The chase covered more than 130 yards (?119 m) from the store.
- The teen possessed a 9 mm semiautomatic pistol with a laser; prosecutors say it fell during the pursuit.
- The fatal bullet entered the right lower back, traveled upward through a lung and lodged in the heart, consistent with a victim running away.
Official Statements & Responses
Prosecutors, led by Solicitor Gipson, argued Chow acted in anger after mistakenly believing the teen had stolen water and that the pistol never posed a threat. They highlighted eyewitnesses who did not see the teen point a gun and emphasized the trajectory evidence. Defense counsel Shaun Kent framed the incident as a classic self-defense scenario: Chow fired because his son was confronted by a gun. Jack Swerling reiterated that any parent would act similarly to protect a child. The state’s forensic expert, Dr. Durso, testified that the wound pattern indicated the teen was facing away when shot.
Criticism & Opposition
Todd Rutherford expressed profound disappointment, stating the verdict “makes us feel as if our children don’t matter.” He described the outcome as unprecedented in his three-decade legal career and announced plans to pursue a civil suit. Community members gathered for vigils, arranging empty water bottles to spell “Cyrus,” and voiced grief over the loss of a Black teenager.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Sources differ on three pivotal points: (1) whether Carmack-Belton pointed his pistol at Andy Chow; (2) whether he stole the water bottles; and (3) whether the gun was used as a threat during the chase. Prosecutors cite multiple witnesses who saw no gun brandished, while the defense relies on Andy Chow’s testimony that the teen pointed the weapon. Surveillance footage confirmed the teen left the store after being questioned but did not capture a gun-pointing moment.
Why It Matters
The case underscores tensions surrounding perceived racial profiling, self-defense law, and community safety in a county where nearly half the population is Black. The verdict sparked both relief among Chow’s supporters and anger among the Black community, highlighting broader debates over gun ownership, youth violence, and the criminal-justice response to interracial incidents.
Verbatim Quotes
- “This case is not about a shoplifter. This case is about a father who sees a gun pointed at his son and had to make a decision,” — Shaun Kent, defense attorney
- “The anger is palpable tonight. You can feel it. You can touch it because people saw a child that looked like their own,” — Todd Rutherford, family attorney
- “chased a kid down, shot him in the back.” — Byron E. Gipson, solicitor
- “My heart goes out to them, but 14-year-old kid should not be roaming the streets of Columbia or South Carolina with semiautomatic pistol loaded and ready to fire.” — Jack Swerling, defense attorney
What’s Next
Todd Rutherford confirmed the Carmack-Belton family will file a civil lawsuit against Rick Chow, seeking damages for the teen’s death despite the criminal acquittal. The case is expected to proceed in South Carolina civil court later this year.
