Cyrus Monroe Carmack-Belton

May 28

Written By M T

14 years old · Columbia, South Carolina · May 28, 2023

Who he was

Cyrus Monroe Carmack-Belton was 14 years old and named after Cyrus the Great — the Persian king known as a benevolent ruler. His family said the name fit. He was a student at Summit Parkway Middle School in Columbia, where he was enrolled in the STEM magnet program. His school remembered him as "intelligent, humorous with quick wit and well-liked by his classmates" — someone who "could always be depended on to ask questions beyond the scope of the topic" because he sought to understand, not just accept. He was a prankster who hid in dark corners to scare his aunt and poked fun at her for being a "weirdo" — but would drop everything to help when someone needed him. His mother Nicole Carmack remembered his hugs most: "Out of the boys, he gave the best tight, loving hugs." He aspired to become a tattoo artist. He attended the Basilica of Saint Peter with his family. He had a father, Troy Belton, who said there is not a day that passes without tears.

What happened

On the evening of May 28, 2023, Cyrus entered the Shell Xpress Mart on Parklane Road in Columbia, leaving his backpack near the door in accordance with the store's policy. Surveillance footage reviewed by prosecutors shows him picking up four water bottles and putting them back. Despite this, store owner Rick Chow and his wife accused him of shoplifting. A verbal confrontation followed, and Cyrus left the store and ran. Chow and his son Andy chased him on foot approximately 130 yards from the store, toward a nearby apartment complex on Springtree Drive. During the chase, Cyrus lost a shoe and fell, sustaining a gash on his leg. Eyewitness Devontae Bryant, driving past, slowed to watch and testified he saw the Chows pursuing the teenager. Cyrus got up and continued running. He was shot once by Rick Chow. The bullet entered his lower right back, traveled upward through his lung and into his heart. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

A gun was found near Cyrus's body. Chow's son had called out during the chase that the teen had a gun. Prosecutors say the gun fell during the chase and Cyrus never threatened anyone with it.

Official ruling

Richland County Sheriff Leon Lott announced at a press conference on May 29, 2023: "He did not shoplift anything. We have no evidence that he stole anything whatsoever." Lott confirmed Cyrus was shot in the back and stated directly: "Rick Chow shot this young man in the back and he killed him and he is going to be appropriately charged with murder."

The Richland County Sheriff's Department's initial incident report categorized the shooting as "not a bias motivated incident.".

Contested record

The family's attorney, Todd Rutherford, disputed the department's characterization from the start: "What happened to Cyrus wasn't an accident. It's something that the Black community has experienced for generations: being racially profiled, then shot down in the street like a dog."

Cyrus's mother, Nicole Carmack, addressed the court during a bond hearing: "Instead of the store owners showing any type of understanding or compassion, they hunted my son down. He was running so hard he ran out of his sneakers, dropped the cell phones. Fell hitting the curb so hard that he sustained a large gash on his legs. Cyrus was still trying to get away — my baby was in fear of his life."

It was also reported that Chow had fired his weapon at customers at least two other times prior to Cyrus's death. He was never charged in those incidents. The jury in the murder trial will not hear this evidence.

Eyewitness Lori Carson testified she watched the Chows chase Cyrus, that he tripped and fell several times, and that she never saw anything in his hands. She stayed with him after he was shot. She wept on the stand describing it: "He didn't have anybody there with him."

Legal process

May 28, 2023 — Cyrus Carmack-Belton shot and killed outside Shell Xpress Mart, Parklane Road, Columbia, SC.

May 29, 2023 — Rick Chow arrested and charged with murder. Sheriff confirms Cyrus did not shoplift.

November 2025 — Judge denies Chow's motion for immunity under South Carolina's Stand Your Ground law, ruling the law requires proof of life-threatening danger not evident in this case.

May 26, 2026 — Jury selection begins at Richland County Courthouse, nearly three years after the killing.

May 27, 2026 — Opening statements. Prosecutor Byron Gipson: "On May 28, 2023, Chikei Rick Chow determined Cyrus Carmack-Belton's life was worth less than four bottles of water." Defense argues Cyrus pointed a gun at Andy Chow and Chow fired in defense of his son.

May 28, 2026 — Day two of testimony, the third anniversary of the shooting. Forensic pathologist Dr. Amy Durso testifies the bullet entered Cyrus's lower right back and traveled through his lung and heart. Her conclusion: "He was not shot from the front. He was shot from the back." Eyewitness Devontae Bryant testifies he watched the Chows chase Cyrus and never saw the teen threaten anyone.

May 29, 2026 — Both state and defense rest. Andy Chow testifies for the defense, claiming Cyrus pointed a gun at him before his father fired. Multiple prosecution witnesses testify they saw Cyrus with his hands up and nothing in his hands. Jury sent home for the weekend.

June 1, 2026 — Closing arguments held. Rick Chow did not testify in his own defense. The defense requested a directed verdict of acquittal before closing arguments. The motion was denied. After more than eight hours of deliberation, the jury returned a unanimous not guilty verdict. Cyrus's family was in the courtroom when the verdict was read. Chow was released.