The murder trial of former South Carolina convenience store owner Chikei Rick Chow is now underway nearly three years after the fatal shooting of 14-year-old Cyrus Carmack-Belton, a case that sparked national attention and outrage.
Prosecutors allege that Chow wrongly accused the teenager of stealing four bottles of water from his gas station before chasing him more than 130 yards away from the property and fatally shooting him with a .45-caliber pistol.
According to the prosecution, surveillance footage shows Cyrus running away from the store before dropping his shoe, backpack, and cell phones moments before the deadly shot was fired.
The defense argues that Chow acted to protect his son, claiming Cyrus pointed a firearm during the chase.
Prosecutors, however, maintain that the teen never threatened anyone and say evidence shows the gun fell to the ground before the shooting occurred.
During opening statements, prosecutors described the shooting as “senseless,” arguing that a child’s life was treated as being worth less than four bottles of water.
The case has become a major point of discussion in South Carolina, with many community members closely following the trial and demanding accountability.
Witnesses have testified that Cyrus appeared frightened while running away and that they never saw a weapon in his hands. Emotional testimony and surveillance footage shown to jurors have become central parts of the trial.
The trial is expected to continue as jurors weigh competing claims over whether the shooting was an act of self-defense or an unjustified killing of a teenager who was trying to flee.