Jury hears opening statements in trial of South Carolina store owner who fatally shot Black teen
Prosecutors say surveillance video and witness testimony show the teen never stole water and tried to leave peacefully before he was shot.
- On Wednesday, the murder trial of convenience store owner Rick Chow began at the Richland County Courthouse in Columbia, addressing the May 28, 2023, shooting death of 14-year-old Cyrus Carmack-Belton.
- Prosecutors allege Chow falsely accused the teen of stealing 4 water bottles before chasing him 130 yards down Springtree Drive, where authorities say Chow shot him in the back.
- Defense attorney Jack Swerling argued Chow reacted to an imminent threat, claiming the teen pointed a pistol at Chow's son Andy, while Fifth Circuit Solicitor Byron Gipson stated the teen's life "was worth less than 4 bottles of water."
- Witness Lori Carson testified she saw the teen running "frightened" and "scared" without a gun in his hands, later observing Chow in a shooting position while the teen lay on the ground.
- In November 2025, a judge denied Chow immunity under South Carolina's Stand Your Ground law, ruling the 60-year-old a danger to the community, as the trial continues following the 2023 incident that sparked protests in Richland County.
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Rick Chow murder trial: Day 2 starts with account of foot chase. Watch along.
The murder trial for Rick Chow, a former Columbia gas station owner accused of fatally shooting a 14-year-old, opened its second day with eyewitness testimony of the alleged killing.
Associated Press News
Jury hears opening statements in trial of South Carolina store owner who fatally shot Black teen
A South Carolina jury heard opening statements in the trial of a store owner charged with murder in the killing of a Black 14-year-old.
Malice? Or protecting his son? - Trial for store owner accused of killing 14-year-old begins
COLUMBIA, SC (WOLO) — The trial of Columbia convenience store owner, Rick Chow — accused of shooting and killing 14-year-old Cyrus Carmack-Belton in 2023 — began Wednesday morning. The teen’s death gained national headlines and sparked civil rights protests across the city. During opening statements, Prosecutor Byron Gipson told the 12 jurors that 14-year-old Carmack-Belton was killed with malice, falsely believed to have shoplifted from Chow’s …
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