Cyrus Carmack-Belton was only 14 years old when his life was tragically taken on May 28, 2023, outside a gas station in Columbia, South Carolina. Cyrus was accused of stealing bottled water, but investigators later stated there was no evidence he had stolen anything. Witnesses said he was running away when he was shot.
Authorities charged gas station owner Chikei “Rick” Chow with murder in Cyrus’s death. The case sparked outrage across the country and brought attention to racial profiling, gun violence, and the treatment of Black children. Cyrus should still be here today. His family has endured unimaginable pain while continuing to fight for justice and keep his name alive.
On June 1, 2026, Rick Chow was found not guilty of murder in the shooting death of 14-year-old Cyrus Carmack-Belton. The verdict left many people heartbroken, angry, and disappointed, while Cyrus’s loved ones continue mourning a young life taken far too soon.
Please keep Cyrus’s family in your prayers, especially during this difficult time. May his name never be forgotten.
VIDEO BELOW:
