A South Carolina gas station owner has been charged with manslaughter after he allegedly fatally shot a 14-year-old boy who he falsely believed was stealing water bottles, authorities said.
Identified as 58-year-old Rick Chow, he was arrested and charged in connection with the death of Cyrus Carmack-Belton, the Richland County Sheriff’s Office said.
During a press conference, Sheriff Leon Lott pointed out that the teenager did not rob a Shell gas station, despite Chow believing he did.
“He didn’t steal anything. We have no evidence that he stole anything at all,” Lott said.
Officers said there was a verbal altercation inside the store before Cyrus left and ran off.
The sheriff said the owner, who police say was armed with a gun, and his son chased the boy into an apartment complex, ABC News reported.
At one point the victim fell while being chased, got up and was allegedly shot in the back by Chow, investigators said.
According to deputies, Chow’s son said Cyrus had a gun. Officers said they found a gun near the teen’s body, but there was no evidence as to who it belonged to.
“Even if he had stolen four bottles of water, which is what he initially took out of the cooler and then put them back in, even if he had, that’s not something you would shoot at anybody, let alone a 14-year-old kid. Lott said. “Just don’t do that.”
Authorities arrived and found the victim face up while a pedestrian was performing chest compressions on her. Cyrus lost his life from a single gunshot wound to the right side of his lower back “appears to be consistent with someone who was fleeing from assailants,” said Richland County Coroner Nadia Rutherford.
“We are confident that this was done in a manner that we will now classify as homicide. This was not an accidental shooting by any means,” the coroner said.
“This was a very intentional shooting. And unfortunately, Cyrus Carmack-Belton lost his life,” he added.
Following a peaceful demonstration at the gas station, there were alleged acts of vandalism and looting, which Sheriff Lott condemned in a second press conference on Tuesday, assuring that those who participated would be held accountable.
According to a police report, the protesters broke the window of the business, destroyed the gas pumps, spray-painted the exterior of the store and left the site with beer and food.
Chow is behind bars at the Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center, police said.
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