COLUMBIA, S.C. — Final arguments concluded Monday in the murder trial of a convenience store owner who fatally shot a 14-year-old Black teenager in 2023, with attorneys presenting vastly different versions of what led to the deadly encounter.
The prosecution contends the shooting was without justification, while the defense maintains that Chikei Rick Chow, 61, fired his weapon only to protect his son from harm.
The Asian store owner shot Cyrus Carmack-Belton in the back while pursuing him on foot through Columbia. Chow mistakenly thought the teenager had taken four water bottles from his gas station convenience store, according to prosecutors. The death sparked significant pain and mourning within Richland County’s African American community, which makes up nearly half the area’s residents.
While Chow acknowledges firing the fatal shot, his legal team contends that Carmack-Belton aimed a weapon at Chow’s son Andy, prompting the father to discharge one round in defense of his child.
The prosecution concedes the teenager possessed a semiautomatic handgun but maintains it dropped to the pavement during the pursuit and was never used to threaten anyone. According to prosecutors, Chow pursued the teen for more than 130 yards beyond his store.
Community members organized memorial gatherings outside the business following the incident, arranging empty water containers to form the name “Cyrus.”
Witness Lori Carson told the court she observed Carmack-Belton fleeing from the store while Chow and his son gave chase. She testified she never observed a weapon or any other object in the teenager’s possession and described him as appearing frightened.
The defense argues Chow acted in an instant to safeguard his son’s life. They point to Chow’s attempts to perform CPR on Carmack-Belton as evidence he harbored no ill will — a necessary component for murder conviction under South Carolina law.
