The trial of a store owner accused of murder in the 2023 shooting of a Black teenager commenced in South Carolina, as the jury listened to the opening arguments on Wednesday. The case has sparked intense debate, with the prosecution labeling the incident as an unjustified act, while the defense argues it was self-defense.
Chikei Rick Chow, a 61-year-old of Asian descent, is charged with the fatal shooting of 14-year-old Cyrus Carmack-Belton. The tragic event occurred following a pursuit in Columbia, after Chow mistakenly believed the teenager had stolen four bottles of water from his gas station convenience store. The incident deeply affected the African American community in Richland County, where nearly half of the residents are Black, stirring emotions of sorrow and anger.
The prosecution acknowledges that Carmack-Belton was carrying a semiautomatic pistol. However, they contend that it fell during the chase, and at no point did the teenager threaten anyone with it. Conversely, Chow’s defense team claims that Carmack-Belton aimed the pistol at Chow’s son, Andy, prompting Chow to fire in defense of his child. It is important to note that Chow held a concealed weapons permit.
During the proceedings, prosecutor Byron E. Gipson addressed the jury with a poignant question: “Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, what is the value of a human life?” He emphasized the immeasurable loss experienced by the boy’s parents due to what he described as a senseless act of violence. He continued, “On May 28, 2023, Chikei Rick Chow, the defendant in this case, determined that Cyrus Carmack-Belton’s life was worth less than four bottles of water.”
Gipson added: “But on May 28, 2023, Chikei Rick Chow, the defendant in this case, determined that Cyrus Carmack-Belton’s life was worth less than four bottles of water.”
Prosecutor disputes defense claim
Gipson then tried to cast doubt on Chow’s claim of defending his son.
“In what world do you get to falsely accuse a 14-year-old of stealing, chase a 14-year-old 130-plus yards down a road while you’re armed with a pistol, shoot that person in the back, then claim you’re defending your son?” he said, calling the shooting “senseless” and “heinous.”
Defense lawyer Jack Swerling began his opening statements questioning why the teen was carrying a pistol equipped with a laser sight around the streets of Columbia.
“If he didn’t have that weapon, he never would have had a weapon to draw on Andy Chow,” Swerling said. “He never would have had a weapon to put Andy Chow in danger. And he never would have had a weapon that would cause Mr. Chow to believe his son was going to be shot and have to make a split-second decision — a split-second decision — as to whether or not to go ahead and fire that gun and protect his son.”
Afterward, Chow performed CPR on Carmack-Belton, which Swerling said helps prove Chow acted without malice — a required element of a murder charge in South Carolina.
Defense lawyer calls shooting tragic but justified
“Nobody’s saying everybody’s happy about this, but unfortunately there are occasions in human life when someone has to exercise that right of self-defense or defense of others,” Swerling said. “It’s sad. It’s tragic. There’s no question about that.”
Chow sat between his lawyers at the defense table, wearing a dark suit, white-collared shirt and no tie with his legs shackled, occasionally writing on a notepad.
Operating a business was a dream for Chikei Rick Chow, Swerling said. Chow was born in Hong Kong and his wife was born in Malaysia. Both became U.S. citizens and had two sons, he said.
Protesters came to Chow’s store the day after the shooting demanding justice and saying Chow mistreated Black customers. Police records showed he shot at shoplifters twice in the past eight years but did not face charges after investigators said he acted in self-defense. After the protests, Chow’s store was vandalized and broken into and cigarettes and beer were stolen, police said.
After opening statements, a police officer who responded to the shooting was the first witness to take the stand in the trial that is expected to last several days.
Witness testifies that teen looked scared
Witness Lori Carson testified that she saw Carmack-Belton running away from the store with Chow and his son in pursuit. She said she never saw a gun or anything else in the teen’s hands.
“He just looked frightened, scared. He looked like he needed help,” Carson said of the teen. “Just like a young child just in trouble, just needed help.”
She said that after they ran down the street, she saw Chow in a shooting position while the teen was on the ground. She became emotional as she described trying to help Carmack-Belton by removing leaves from his mouth while Chow performed mouth-to-mouth resuscitation.
Authorities said the shooting happened about 130 yards (120 meters) from the store. A gun was found near Carmack-Belton’s body, but investigators have said there is no evidence the teen ever directed the firearm at Chow or his son.
Carmack-Belton had entered the store about 8 p.m. and quickly drew suspicion from the Chows, prosecutors said. He took four water bottles out of a cooler but put them back, they said. He got into an argument with the Chows and denied their allegations of stealing, then left the store, authorities said.