Gas Station Owner Charged w/ Murder After Fatally Shooting 14-Year-Old Boy He Falsely Accused Of Shoplifting

Rick Chow

Gas Station Owner Charged w/ Murder After Fatally Shooting 14-Year-Old Boy He Falsely Accused Of Shoplifting

A South Carolina community is recovering following the tragic murder of a young boy.

According to recent reports, 14-year-old Cyrus Carmack-Belton was fatally shot by 58-year-old Columbia convenience store owner Rick Chow, who wrongfully thought the child was shoplifting.

Reportedly, the tragic altercation happened this past Sunday (May 28th). Rick Chow, owner of the Shell gas station where the incident took place, suspected Cyrus of stealing and verbally harassed him until he exited the store. Subsequently, Chow and his son reportedly chased Cyrus to a set of nearby apartments where the store owner fired off a fatal shot in the young boy’s back.

Following an investigation, the Richland County Sheriff’s Department reportedly claimed there was no evidence that Cyrus stole nor intended to steal. Protesters quickly organized and gathered outside of the gas station with signs reading:

“RICK MURDERED A CHILD”

And:

“No child deserves to die over WATER #JusticeforCyrus”

Video camera footage reportedly showed Cyrus removing several water bottles from the store’s cooler before putting them back. This, according to the investigation, is what led Chow to believe the boy was robbing him. During a press conference,  Richland County Coroner, Naida Rutherford, reportedly made clear that the shooting was an intentional decision, not an accident. She stated:

“This was not an accidental shooting by any means. This was a very intentional shooting…Unfortunately, Cyrus Carmack-Belton lost his life.”

Sheriff Leon Lott added:

“Regardless, even if he had shoplifted four bottles of water, which is what he initially took out of the cooler and then he put them back, even if he’d done that, that’s not something you shoot anybody over, much less a 14-year-old, but you just don’t do that,”

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In the aftermath of the murder, the community has continued to struggle to come to terms with the senseless loss of a young life. Community member Valisa Palmer reportedly told news outlets:

“A 14 year old has lost their life. It grieves our hearts…I did not think something like this could happen in our community.”

While Tameeka Allen added:

“This is senseless. You got a human life gone for a bottle of water…You got two things in life, judicial justice and street justice, and we’re here to get it done the right way.”

Authorities added in the report that they did recover a gun near Cyrus’ body, but had no evidence it belonged to him or that it was used in a threatening manner. As the investigation continues, the community continues to mourn Cyrus’ life and is seemingly committed to fighting for justice. Reportedly, applause rang out at the gas station earlier today (May 30) as news of Chow’s murder charge was announced. He is reportedly being held at the Alvin S Glenn detention center in South Carolina.

[VIA 1,2]

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