South Carolina Shop owner Rick Chow was charged in the fatal shooting of a 14-year-old boy Cyrus Carmack-Belton.
Store owner Rick Chow charged with murder after shooting 14-year-old boy
Based on WIS-TVChow allegedly believes the teen stole a water bottle from his Shell gas station in Columbia when the shooting happened around 8 p.m. on Sunday.
However, Richland County Sheriff Leon Lott denied Chow’s allegation of stealing and said that even if the teenager stole, there is no guarantee of what happened next.
“Despite that, even if he did steal four bottles of water from the store, that’s what he initially took out of the fridge and then he put them back in, even if he did. If that’s the case, then it’s not something you can shoot at anyone, much less than a 14-year-old, but you don’t do that,” Sheriff Lott said.
Authorities said Chow, 58, and his son chased Carmack-Belton outside the store before knocking him down. Sheriff Lott called the boy’s death “meaningless.”
“It makes no sense; it makes no sense,” Sheriff Lott said at a Memorial Day news conference. “You have a grieving family, we have a community grieving over a 14-year-old being shot.”
Rick Chow, owner of a Shell gas station in Columbia, SC, KILLED Cyrus Carmack-Belton, a 14-year-old Black boy, for a water bottle.
Asian Americans have a history of being anti-Black, exploiting Negro neighborhoods, controlling Blacks, and appropriating Black culture. pic.twitter.com/hcrnl8NY0M
– Bishop Talbert Swan (@TalbertSwan) May 30, 2023
Store owner believes teen shopped and was armed, police say
According to RCSD, Chow’s son told his father that Carmack-Belton was armed. Deputies eventually recovered a gun near the victim’s body, believed to be Carmack-Belton’s.
However, the RCSD said there is no evidence that Carmack-Belton ever pointed a gun at or threatened Chow in any way.
Sheriff Lott added that Carmack-Belton was on the run from Chow when he was shot. Meanwhile, Richland County Coroner Naida Rutherford said the boy suffered a gunshot wound to his lower right back.
Investigators believe Chow “has a concealed weapon license” and that “the firearm is in legal possession.”
Lott went on to say that there have been a number of incidents and conflicts reported at the store. However, he said there were no incidents in the past that led Chow to believe he was in danger.
Chow’s Shell gas station vandalized by protesters a day after deadly shooting
In Monday, WIS-TV reported that Chow’s store was vandalized after protests there turned destructive, police said.
Delegates responded to the venue around 9:30 p.m. Monday. When they arrived, they said they found broken windows and a large group of people stealing goods inside the store.
Police Chief Lott said: “This type of criminal behavior will not be tolerated. “The individuals involved will be identified and prosecuted.”
HAPPY TODAY: This is the scene today at the Shell gas station on Parklane Drive in Columbia.
Delegates of Richland Co. says the store was vandalized after owner Rick Chow was accused of killing 14-year-old Cyrus Carmack-Belton. @wachfox pic.twitter.com/wuLJ2rwujL
– Sydni Edwards (@SydniSpeakstv) May 30, 2023
Meanwhile, an investigation into the incident is ongoing, the delegates added.
Law & Crime Newspaper reported that Chow’s first trial is expected to take place on June 23.
