Columbia, South Carolina — A South Carolina jury on Monday found a store owner not guilty of murder in the 2023 shooting of a Black 14-year-old.
The jury returned a verdict in favor of Czech Rick Chow. Chow, 61, an Asian, shot Cyrus Carmack Pelton in the back after he chased him from his convenience store in Columbia. He confirmed that he acted to defend his son.
The killing sent waves of Anguish and sadness Through the African American community in Richland County, where nearly half the population is black.
After the verdict was read, sobs and cries for help could be heard coming from the Carmack-Belton family sitting in the gallery. Zhao sat frozen in silence before slowly bowing his head on his clasped hands.
Defense attorney Jack Swerling said they were very pleased with the verdict but also felt for Carmack Belton’s family.
“My heart goes out to them, but no 14-year-old should be walking the streets of Columbia or South Carolina with a semi-automatic handgun loaded and ready to fire,” he said.
Carmack Pelton’s family did not speak to reporters outside court. Attorney Byron E. Gibson did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment.
In closing arguments, prosecutors and defense attorneys painted different pictures of the shooting in 2023. Prosecutors said Chow acted angrily because he mistakenly believed the teen had stolen four bottles of water from the store. The defense attorney said Chow fired to defend his son only after the teen pointed a gun at him.
“This case is not about a shoplifter. This case is about a father who saw a gun pointed at his son and had to make a decision,” defense attorney Shawn Kent told jurors during closing arguments. Andy Chow testified that Carmack Belton pointed a gun at him, the defense attorney said.
Prosecutors acknowledged that Carmack Pelton had a semi-automatic handgun, but said it fell to the ground during the chase, and he never threatened anyone with it. Prosecutors said Chow chased the teen more than 130 yards (119 meters) from the store.
Gibson told jurors that Chow “chased a child and shot him in the back.”
During closing arguments, Gibson placed a water bottle in front of the jury. Gibson said that Chow “ultimately believed that man was nothing more than that.”
Gibson said several witnesses testified that they did not see anything in Carmack Pelton’s hands nor did they see him point a gun as he fled the store.
“No one testified to what happened and he does not have the last name Chow,” Gibson said.
The deadly shooting led to vigils and protests outside the store. Empty water bottles were arranged to spell out the name “Cyrus” at a vigil in 2023.