South Carolina jury acquits store owner in fatal shooting of armed teen

June 5, 2026
11:12 am

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https://youtu.be/KLMY181thl4 Case OverviewA Richland County jury found 61-year-old Rick Chow not guilty of murder after eight hours of deliberation on June 1, 2026. Chow, an Asian convenience-store owner, was charged in the 2023 death of 14-year-old Cyrus Carmarmac Belton following a confrontation at the Express Martell gas station in Columbia, South Carolina. Prosecutors argued the shooting stemmed from a suspected shoplifting incident involving a 98-cent water bottle, but the defense maintained Chow acted in lawful self-defense and defense of his son when the teen allegedly pointed a loaded pistol at them.Key Evidence PresentedSurveillance footage from more than 39 cameras showed Belton handling water bottles but returning them without completing a theft.Chow and his son pursued Belton roughly 130 yards down Springtree Drive; the teen lost a shoe and fell multiple times during the chase.A 9 mm pistol with a laser sight was recovered beside Belton’s body, supporting the claim that he drew and aimed the weapon before being shot.Richland County records documented hundreds of prior police calls to the store, including dozens for shoplifting, assaults, and robberies.Legal and Statistical ContextSouth Carolina’s self-defense statutes, including stand-your-ground provisions, were central to the defense. The jury accepted that Chow fired only after the teen refused an order to drop the gun. The host emphasized demographic crime patterns, noting that Black juveniles account for 34–52 % of juvenile violent-crime arrests despite comprising about 16 % of the youth population, while Asian males over 60 have among the nation’s lowest violent-offense rates.Host CommentaryPaul Glasco, host of Legally Armed America, stated: “If Rick Chow simply wanted to shoot Cyrus… why chase him 130 yards… He could have fired right in front of the store.” He also warned viewers to watch for “more professional” protest signage, suggesting outside agitators could escalate tensions. Glasco concluded, “There’s no age limit on effing around and finding out.”

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Case Overview

A Richland County jury found 61-year-old Rick Chow not guilty of murder after eight hours of deliberation on June 1, 2026. Chow, an Asian convenience-store owner, was charged in the 2023 death of 14-year-old Cyrus Carmarmac Belton following a confrontation at the Express Martell gas station in Columbia, South Carolina. Prosecutors argued the shooting stemmed from a suspected shoplifting incident involving a 98-cent water bottle, but the defense maintained Chow acted in lawful self-defense and defense of his son when the teen allegedly pointed a loaded pistol at them.

Key Evidence Presented

Surveillance footage from more than 39 cameras showed Belton handling water bottles but returning them without completing a theft.
Chow and his son pursued Belton roughly 130 yards down Springtree Drive; the teen lost a shoe and fell multiple times during the chase.
A 9 mm pistol with a laser sight was recovered beside Belton’s body, supporting the claim that he drew and aimed the weapon before being shot.
Richland County records documented hundreds of prior police calls to the store, including dozens for shoplifting, assaults, and robberies.

Legal and Statistical Context

South Carolina’s self-defense statutes, including stand-your-ground provisions, were central to the defense. The jury accepted that Chow fired only after the teen refused an order to drop the gun. The host emphasized demographic crime patterns, noting that Black juveniles account for 34–52 % of juvenile violent-crime arrests despite comprising about 16 % of the youth population, while Asian males over 60 have among the nation’s lowest violent-offense rates.

Host Commentary

Paul Glasco, host of Legally Armed America, stated: “If Rick Chow simply wanted to shoot Cyrus… why chase him 130 yards… He could have fired right in front of the store.” He also warned viewers to watch for “more professional” protest signage, suggesting outside agitators could escalate tensions. Glasco concluded, “There’s no age limit on effing around and finding out.”

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