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South Carolina jury finds store owner not guilty of murder in killing of Black teen
Jurors rejected prosecutors’ claim that Rick Chow chased and shot the teen over stolen water, ending the five-day murder trial with a not guilty verdict.
- On Monday, a South Carolina jury acquitted store owner Chikei Rick Chow of murder in the 2023 fatal shooting of 14-year-old Cyrus Carmack-Belton, concluding the trial.
- In 2023, Chow shot Carmack-Belton in the back during a foot chase after prosecutors claim the teen had stolen four bottles of water from the convenience store.
- Defense attorney Shaun Kent argued Chow fired to protect his son, Andy Chow, who testified the teen pointed a gun; Solicitor Byron E. Gipson countered that multiple witnesses saw nothing in Carmack-Belton's hands.
- The 2023 killing sent waves of anguish through Richland County's African American community, where protestors held vigils outside the store, arranging empty water bottles to spell out 'Cyrus.'
- Defense lawyers argued Chow performed CPR on Carmack-Belton after the shooting, demonstrating a lack of malice—a required element for murder in South Carolina—to counter the prosecution's case.
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Total News Sources77
Leaning Left28Leaning Right6Center38Last UpdatedBias Distribution53% Center
Bias Distribution
- 53% of the sources are Center
53% Center
L 39%
C 53%
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