Who Was Cyrus Carmack-Belton? 14-Year-Old Shot By Gas Station Owner For Stealing?

On Sunday at 8 PM, a 14-year-old kid named Cyrus Carmack-Belton was shot dead by the proprietor of a petrol station in South Carolina. Rick Chow, the accused, has been charged with murder in connection with the incident. According to accounts, Chow accused the victim of being there to steal water that was bottled. Read on to know more.

Cyrus Carmack-Belton

Cyrus Carmack-Belton was 14 years old. According to media sources, he visited the store while seeing family in town. When he entered Chow’s store, Chow Anon accused Cyrus of shoplifting bottled water. When they questioned Cyrus, he allegedly began running him away. After that, Chow’s son pursued him after seeing Cyrus was carrying a pistol despite Cyrus’s lack of reaction and argument. Chow shot Cyrus in the back, killing him on the spot. Rick Chow, 58, has been accused of murder in connection with the teen’s death.

Police Stance On This?

Police have additionally concluded that there was no altercation between the store owner and the adolescent since he has no wounds, scratches, or other physical injuries.

Coroner Naida Rutherford expressed condolences for Cyrus Carmack-Belton’s death and spoke with his parents. The inquiry is still ongoing, according to police, and they are looking into many perspectives.

A 14-year-old kid named Cyrus Carmack-Belton was shot in the back and killed by a store owner in Columbia SC, who accused Cyrus of stealing. Although, evidence has proven he was falsely accused and never stole anything from the store. His death is being ruled a homicide.

I’ll… pic.twitter.com/kUvf43rUyj

— Jimmy 🖤💙✨ (@MajorFactor2) May 30, 2023

Chow’s actions were criticized by Richland County Sheriff Leon Lott, who stated during a press conference,

“You don’t shoot somebody in the back if he’s not a threat to you. It’s the same standard that we do, that cops have to live by. You have to be defending someone’s life or your life. There has to be an immediate danger to you. Someone who is running away has no indication that he is pointing a gun at anyone. While he was running away, he was shot in the back. Even if he had shoplifted four bottles of water, it’s not something you shoot anyone over, much less a 14-year-old.”

Rick Chow, owner of a Shell gas station in Columbia, SC, MURDERED Cyrus Carmack-Belton, a 14 yr old Black boy, over a bottle of water.

Asian Americans have a history of anti-Blackness, exploiting Black neighborhoods, policing Black bodies, and appropriating Black culture. pic.twitter.com/hcrnl8NY0M

— Bishop Talbert Swan (@TalbertSwan) May 30, 2023