On June 1st, 2026, a South Carolina jury reached a final decision in a case that has heartbroken and angered many people across the country. The jury unanimously found convenience store owner Rick Chow not guilty of murder for the 2023 shooting of 14-year-old Cyrus Carmack-Belton.
The verdict was read aloud in a Richland County courtroom. One by one, all twelve jurors stood up and confirmed their decision. For the family of Cyrus and the local community, it was a devastating moment that left them asking how a chased and unarmed teenager could lose his life without anyone being found guilty.
Who Was Cyrus Carmack-Belton?
Fourteen-year-old Cyrus Monroe Carmack-Belton is remembered by his family, teachers, and peers as an intelligent, creative, and remarkably kind young man. An eighth-grader at Summit Parkway Middle School who loved science, Cyrus was deeply well-liked for his witty personality, infectious smile, and generous heart. His selflessness was on full display when he gave his own shoes to a classmate who didn’t have the proper attire for graduation. He was a tech-savvy teenager who enjoyed taking apart and rebuilding gaming consoles, but he was equally passionate about drawing, aspiring to one day become a professional tattoo artist.
At home, Cyrus was the youngest of four brothers, whom he considered his absolute best friends, and was known as the ultimate family prankster. He loved long nature walks, possessed a major sweet tooth for cotton candy and birthday cake ice cream, and brought immense light to everyone around him. Rather than the tragic events surrounding his passing, his community remembers him for his vibrant spirit, bright future, and the genuine joy he shared with the world.
What Led to the Shooting?
The tragedy took place over Memorial Day weekend in May 2023. Cyrus, who had just finished the eighth grade and was enjoying the very first week of his summer break, walked into the Xpress Mart Shell station in Columbia, South Carolina.
While inside, store workers suspected the teenager of trying to steal four bottles of water. But security cameras—which prosecutors emphasized do not lie—showed a different story. Cyrus took the water bottles out of the cooler, put all four back on the shelf, and left the store. He did not steal anything.
Even though Cyrus had put the water back, Rick Chow and his son Andy did not check the video footage. Instead, they chose to chase the 14-year-old down the street. Cyrus was so terrified during the chase that he ran right out of his shoes and dropped his phones. At one point, he tripped and took a violent fall, causing a gun he had hidden to spill out onto the ground.
Cyrus picked up the gun and kept running away. But instead of stopping, Chow kept moving forward. He fired his pistol, hitting Cyrus directly in the back. The bullet passed through the boy’s lung and heart. Cyrus died on the side of the road, surrounded by strangers.
Why Was the Owner Found Not Guilty?
During the trial, prosecutors argued that the shooting was driven by anger. They pointed out that Chow had a “wall of shame” in his store for shoplifters and let his anger lead to a deadly pursuit. They argued that Chow could have taken 17 seconds to look at his security cameras, or one second to call 911, rather than chasing a child 130 yards off his property.
Rick Chow, Convenience Store owner
However, Chow’s defense team focused heavily on the moment during the chase when his son yelled out that Cyrus had a gun. Under South Carolina law, if a person truly believes their loved one is in immediate danger of being killed or badly hurt, it can be viewed as legal justification.
Even though Cyrus was running away, his possession of a firearm created enough questions for the jury. To get a murder conviction, the law requires the jury to be completely, firmly convinced of guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. Because of the frantic nature of the chase and the mention of a weapon, the jury decided there was enough legal doubt to clear Chow of the murder charge.
The Community Reacts: Protests, Boycotts, and Calls for Change
The not-guilty verdict acted like a match thrown onto gasoline, sparking immediate outrage and pain throughout the Columbia community and beyond. People felt that the justice system had failed Black children once again.
In the hours and days following the decision, the reaction from the community was swift and powerful:
Demands for Federal Intervention: Because the local state court found Chow not guilty, civil rights leaders and the Carmack-Belton family are now pleading with the federal government to step in. They are asking the Department of Justice to investigate the shooting as a federal civil rights violation.The tragedy serves as a dark reminder of what can happen when private citizens choose to take the law into their own hands.
Boycotts and Economic Action: Angry community members immediately called for a complete boycott of the Shell gas station where the incident began. But the economic protest went even further. Activists and local leaders began urging people to intentionally pull their money out of businesses that do not support or respect the local community, pushing instead for a heavy focus on supporting Black-owned businesses. The goal is to build up economic power within the Black community so they do not have to rely on stores where they feel unsafe or unwelcome.
Protests at the Store: Crowds of protestors gathered outside the convenience store, holding signs with Cyrus’s face and chanting his name. The store, which had already been a site of tension since 2023, became the focal point for a community demanding accountability.
But the Asian business owners are not feeling the ideas of Black people boycotting their businesses; actually DARES the Black community to boycott and “see how long they last.”
A Young Life Cut Short
The prosecutors ended the trial by reminding everyone of the heavy cost of this split-second decision. Because of a false assumption over a one-dollar bottle of water, Cyrus Carmack-Belton will forever be 14 years old. He will never get to start high school, go to prom, celebrate his 21st birthday, or grow old to see gray hair in the mirror.
While the court case has officially ended with a not-guilty verdict, the pain in the community remains deep. The tragedy serves as a dark reminder of what can happen when private citizens choose to take the law into their own hands.
How the Cyrus Carmack-Belton Case Compares to Latasha Harlins
You know, this reminds me of the death of Latasha Harlins. Latasha was a 15-year-old Black girl who was shot and killed by a convenience store owner in Los Angeles in 1991.
Both cases caused huge anger and protests. Here is a simple breakdown of how these two tragedies are similar and different.
The Similarities
- False Accusations Over Small Items: In both cases, a Black teenager was wrongly accused of stealing something that cost very little money. Cyrus was falsely accused of stealing water bottles. Latasha was falsely accused of trying to steal a $1.79 bottle of orange juice.
- The Kids Were Innocent: Security cameras proved that both teenagers did nothing wrong. Cyrus put the water back on the shelf before leaving. Latasha had the juice in her hand and money in her other hand, intending to pay for it.
- Shot from Behind: Both teenagers were shot while trying to leave. Cyrus was running away down the street when he was shot in the back. Latasha was turning around to walk out of the store after a fight when she was shot in the back of the head.
- Community Boycotts and Outrage: Both shootings caused massive anger in the community. After Latasha was killed, people boycotted the store and other similar businesses. In Cyrus’s case, the community also started protests and boycotted the gas station.
- A Feeling of No Justice: In both cases, the community felt the legal system failed them. While Rick Chow was found not guilty of murder by a jury, the store owner who killed Latasha (Soon Ja Du) was found guilty but avoided prison time, receiving only probation and community service.
The Differences
- Where the Shooting Happened: Cyrus was shot outside the store. He ran away, and the owner chased him 130 yards down a public street before shooting him. Latasha was shot inside the store, right by the front counter.
- The Presence of a Weapon: This was a major difference in the court trials. Cyrus had a gun in his pocket that fell out when he tripped during the chase. Even though he was running away, the store owner’s defense team argued that the presence of a gun made them feel in danger. Latasha was completely unarmed and had nothing but money in her hand.
- A Physical Fight vs. A Chase: Before Latasha was shot, the store owner grabbed her sweater, and the two got into a physical fight at the counter. Latasha punched the owner in self-defense to get away. In Cyrus’s case, there was no physical fight; it was a terrifying foot chase down the street.
The Big Picture
Both of these cases show how false assumptions and quick anger can lead to a young person losing their life over everyday items. Decades apart, both stories show the deep pain communities feel when they believe the justice system does not protect Black children.
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