Rick Chow has been found not guilty on murder charges in the shooting death of a 14-year-old in Columbia.
Chow was charged in the May 28, 2023, shooting death of Cyrus Carmack-Belton outside Chow’s Shell gas station on Parklane Road.
Carmack-Belton ran from the store while being chased by Chow and his son.
Authorities say the pair pursued the teen after accusing him of stealing four bottles of water from the store.
Chow shot Carmack-Belton once in the back after his son claimed the teen had a gun.
Chow was arrested the following day.
In November 2025, a judge denied Rick Chow immunity under South Carolina’s Stand Your Ground law and also denied bond, ruling the 60-year-old store owner was a danger to the community and a flight risk.
The ruling came after prosecutors presented surveillance video and photos in court showing Carmack-Belton running from the store. Authorities said the allegation of theft was not supported by surveillance video.
Chow has served three years in prison.
The unanimous decision came Monday evening after eight hours of deliberation.
BigPandaCloud on June 2nd, 2026 at 02:02 UTC »
"The strongest point for the defense was that Carmack-Belton actually did possess a loaded handgun, and the jury only needed a reasonable doubt about whether he threatened Andy Chow with it. If even one juror believed it was possible the gun was pointed at Andy, the murder charge became much harder to prove."
viewbtwnvillages on June 2nd, 2026 at 01:17 UTC »
i feel like chasing a teenager 130 yards to shoot him in the back after he didn't steal anything should perhaps make you a little guilty. but alas.
epidemicsaints on June 2nd, 2026 at 01:17 UTC »
He has shot at two other people in the past, but had no charges so they were excluded from the trial.
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/rich-chow-columbia-gas-station-convenience-store-owner-shot-two-shoplifters/