A South Carolina jury has found convenience store owner Chikei Rick Chow not guilty of murder in the 2023 shooting death of 14-year-old Cyrus Carmack-Belton, a verdict that sparked heartbreak and outrage inside the courtroom.
The emotional decision came Monday after jurors sided with Chow, 61, who admitted shooting the teen in the back after chasing him from his Columbia convenience store. Chow argued he was acting to protect his son during a chaotic confrontation.