South Carolina Store Owner Acquitted in Shooting of Teen

A jury in South Carolina acquitted a convenience store owner on Monday in the shooting death of a 14-year-old boy who was armed.

Chikey Rick Chow, aged 61, faced murder charges stemming from the incident in which he shot Silas Carmack Belton, who had brought a handgun into a store in Columbia. Chow stated he acted out of concern for his son during the altercation. This case drew significant attention, reportedly causing divisions in the community, particularly given that about half of the town’s population is Black.

According to reports, prosecutors claimed that Chow had unfounded suspicions that Carmack Belton had stolen a water bottle and followed him for over 100 yards. Defense lawyers countered that Chow fired his weapon to protect himself and his son, asserting that Carmack Belton had pointed the gun at them. While prosecutors confirmed the boy indeed had a gun, they argued he did not create any real threat to those around him.

The verdict elicited emotional reactions from Carmack-Belton’s family, who were heard expressing their anger and sorrow. Representative Todd Rutherford, a Democrat from South Carolina, voiced disappointment, stating that the ruling suggested a lack of value for Black lives. He emphasized that it felt as though Carmack Belton’s life was insignificant, even though it truly mattered.

Rutherford mentioned his intention to assist the family in pursuing a civil lawsuit related to the incident.

Chow’s defense attorney, Jack Swerling, indicated that the outcome signified a justice aligned with Chow’s actions, while also extending sympathy to Chow’s family. Swerling remarked on the troubling reality of a 14-year-old possessing a loaded pistol and roaming the streets.