Mourning Grips Community Following Tragic Death of Teenager, Gas Station Owner Charged with Murder

The South Carolina community gathered to mourn the untimely death of a 14-year-old boy, allegedly shot in the back by a gas station owner. Elected officials, acknowledging the community’s anger and grief, called for channeling these emotions into collective support and political action. Approximately 60 individuals came together for a prayer vigil near the Xpress Mart Shell station in Columbia, less than a week after the incident occurred. The owner, Rick Chow, allegedly killed Cyrus Carmack-Belton, a Black teenager whom he wrongly suspected of stealing four water bottles.

Expressing her anger, Richland County Councilwoman Yvonne McBride stated, “I am furious about what happened. I’m enraged because a young innocent life was brutally taken from us.” Rick Chow, aged 58, has been charged with murder after an autopsy revealed that Carmack-Belton was shot in the back while fleeing from the store’s premises, according to Richland County Sheriff Leon Lott. Despite Chow’s belief that the teenager had committed theft, surveillance videos from the store indicated that Carmack-Belton had actually returned the water bottles to the cooler. Sheriff Lott mentioned that Chow’s son claimed the teen was armed, but there is no evidence suggesting that the gun found near Carmack-Belton’s body was ever aimed at them.

Authorities disclosed that Chow, who possesses a concealed weapon’s permit, had previously fired at individuals he suspected of shoplifting on two separate occasions over the past eight years. Shockingly, he had never faced any charges for these incidents. Richland County Coroner Naida Rutherford emphasized during the vigil that Carmack-Belton had not brandished a weapon. “There was a young boy killed right across the street, and he did not deserve to die,” she sorrowfully declared.

Rutherford also appealed for peace during the Friday evening service, following a week that witnessed nonviolent protests and vandalism near the store. The vigil took place one day before Carmack-Belton’s funeral, where attendees endorsed swift justice and the need to address the unrestricted flow of firearms in society. Councilwoman McBride restated her opposition to recently approved tax breaks for a gun manufacturer’s expansion in their county, a region that has faced a gun violence crisis in recent years, as highlighted by the sheriff.

State Representative Leon Howard asserted that both Rick Chow and his son, who allegedly participated in the chase, should face full prosecution under the law. Howard additionally called upon constituents to urge state senators to pass a hate crimes bill, as South Carolina currently lacks such legislation. He argued that the fatal shooting, motivated by hate, provides further impetus for enacting this law. “It was simply an act of hate. What other reason would lead someone to commit such a violent act against a young teenager, shooting him in the back?” Howard expressed to The Big Big News.

A spontaneous memorial began to take shape, adorned with an increasing number of balloons and flowers, on the grassy area where Carmack-Belton tragically lost his life. Signs expressing grief and remembrance, such as “He Was Just A KID!” and “CYRUS SHOULD BE HERE,” stood as poignant reminders of the young boy’s presence. In a heartfelt Facebook post, Carmack-Belton’s middle school fondly remembered him as an intelligent and quick-witted student with an “infectious smile” who aspired to own a tattoo shop.

Counselors and spiritual leaders emphasized the importance of seeking help to process the range of emotions brought about by such a tragic event. Lashonda McFadden, a member of the local school district’s board of trustees, called on the community to support young students who had witnessed the loss of someone who “looks like me.” Reese Palmer, a counselor who hosted the vigil, spoke to the AP, stating, “It’s a normal, human reaction to be shocked, outraged, angry, and frustrated when such a senseless murder occurs. This child was killed and shot down. We need a safe space to process all these emotions.”

The residents of Richland County, where almost half the population is Black, continue to mourn the loss, with State Representative Todd Rutherford, the family’s attorney, declaring earlier this week that this tragedy was no accident. He stated that the experience of being racially profiled and shot down in the street like a dog is one that the Black community has endured for generations. Rutherford, in a statement, commended the resilience of the Black community as they rallied around the grieving family, acknowledging that they have joined a club that no Black family ever wants to be a part of.

[Author’s note: The reference to “The Big Big News” in the last paragraph seems to be the name of a publication or news outlet mentioned in the original text. Since I don’t have any specific information about it, I left it as is.]

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