A South Carolina jury’s decision to acquit convenience store owner Rick Chow in the fatal shooting of 14-year-old Cyrus Carmack-Belton has reignited grief, anger, and protest in Columbia, where the killing first shook the community in 2023.
Chow, 61, was found not guilty of murder on Monday in the death of the Black teenager, whom he shot in the back after a chase outside his Xpress Mart Shell Station. The incident occurred on May 28, 2023, after Chow accused Cyrus of stealing four bottles of water. Chow maintained he acted in defense of his son, claiming the teenager had pointed a gun at him.
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The verdict immediately drew strong reactions both locally and nationally. Prosecutor Byron Gipson acknowledged the emotional toll in a statement Tuesday, saying the outcome “has brought on strong emotions from our local and national communities.”
He added, “While I am disappointed with last night’s outcome and continue to believe that Rick Chow’s actions were not justifiable, I respect our criminal justice system and the jury’s decision.”
WOW!
Surveillance footage from inside of the store tha Rick Chow owned showed 14-year-old Cyrus Carmack-Belton being followed by the wife the entire time he was inside
You can also see cyrus put all 4 water bottles back in the cooler before being confronted and then chased https://t.co/omZn1g1WtT pic.twitter.com/iRAGJdjImB
— Shannonnn sharpes Burner (PARODY Account) (@shannonsharpeee) May 28, 2026
Defense attorney Jack Swerling described the shooting as a “tragedy” but said the jury reached the “right verdict.” He argued that under South Carolina law, murder “requires a showing of malice aforethought,” adding, “I don’t think the state was able to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Rick Chow acted with malice.”
Swerling also said he “never sensed there was any racial profiling in this case,” emphasizing the store’s history of shoplifting and Chow’s claim that he fired only after seeing a gun pointed at his son.
Prosecutors, however, presented a sharply different account. Solicitor Byron E. Gipson told jurors that Chow “chased a kid down, shot him in the back,” arguing the teen posed no immediate threat. He also stressed that “Nobody testified that happened that doesn’t have the last name Chow,” referring to claims that Cyrus pointed a weapon. Witnesses testified they did not see anything in the teen’s hands as he ran.
Although prosecutors acknowledged Cyrus had a semiautomatic pistol, they said it fell during the chase and was never used to threaten anyone. Authorities also noted there were no signs of a struggle.
Richland County Coroner Naida Rutherford said at the time that there was no indication Cyrus “was fighting with the store owner prior to him running out of the store,” adding his injuries were limited to a gunshot wound to the lower right back and an abrasion from a fall.
The shooting quickly became a flashpoint. Sheriff Leon Lott called it “disturbing,” stating that even if shoplifting had occurred, “that’s not something you shoot anybody over, much less a 14-year-old.”
Following Monday’s verdict, protesters gathered again outside the gas station on Parklane Road. Demonstrators chanted and held signs reading “Justice for Cyrus,” with crowds growing into the evening and at times spilling into nearby intersections.
The case has left a lasting impact on the community, where nearly half the population is Black. The Carmack-Belton family, who were seen sobbing in court as the verdict was read, plan to pursue a civil lawsuit, according to their attorney, State Representative Todd Rutherford.
The killing had previously prompted vigils and memorials, including one where empty water bottles were arranged to spell out “Cyrus.” In 2023, the store itself was vandalized in the aftermath, with graffiti including the message “RIP King Cyrus.”
In court, both sides framed the case in starkly different terms. Defense attorney Shaun Kent told jurors, “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.”
Tensions were high today in Columbia, SC at protests over the Rick Chow verdict?‼️🤔 pic.twitter.com/pAJM6Z3bWD
— SoulFood66 (@BlackAndNative1) June 3, 2026
Prosecutors countered by emphasizing the circumstances of the pursuit, arguing the shooting stemmed from anger over a suspected theft rather than imminent danger.
Let’s talk about the facts of the Rick Chow shooting of Cyrus Carmack-Belton, what actually happened, and what the jury actually ruled.
Releasing a part 2 of my further thoughts on this case and the response from the black community. pic.twitter.com/8T5akFOqOt
— Kangmin Lee | 이강민 (@kangminlee) June 5, 2026
As demonstrations continue, the verdict has become another focal point in broader national conversations about race, self-defense claims, and the use of deadly force.
