On June 1, a Richland County, South Carolina, jury found 61-year-old Chikei Rick Chow not guilty of murder in the fatal shooting of Cyrus Carmack-Belton, a 14-year-old Black teenager. Prosecutors argued that Chow chased the boy more than 100 meters away from his gas station and shot him in the back with a .45 Glock after mistakenly suspecting that he had stolen four bottles of water. The county coroner herself confirmed that the wound was “consistent with someone who was fleeing”.
The defense argued that Cyrus had pointed a gun at Chow’s son, Andy, who was the only witness to that version of events. No witness outside the family confirmed that account. For those who support the acquittal, the fact that the teenager was carrying a semiautomatic pistol changes the picture completely. For those who reject it, a child fleeing and shot in the back cannot be called self-defense.
The family announced that it does not accept the verdict and will continue the battle in civil court. Did the jury make the right decision, or did justice fail Cyrus?