Jury Finds Store Owner Not Guilty in Teen Shooting

A jury in South Carolina acquitted 61-year-old Asian store owner Chikei Rick Chow of murdering 14-year-old Cyrus Carmack-Belton in a 2023 shooting that sparked outrage, especially in Richland County’s Black community. Chow claimed self-defense after a chase, saying he was protecting his son, while prosecutors argued he acted out of anger over a perceived theft. Witnesses said the teen never threatened anyone with his gun, which reportedly fell during the chase. The verdict drew cries of grief from the victim’s family and disbelief from attorneys, who called it a devastating message that children’s lives don’t matter. The family’s legal team vowed to pursue a civil suit, calling the outcome unprecedented in their 30 years of practice. Protests and vigils followed, including a memorial of empty water bottles spelling Cyrus’s name. Support the show:Get a discount at https://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/297092b340f13d15