The mother of Cyrus Carmack-Belton, an African-American teen fatally shot after being wrongly accused of shoplifting, is asking for justice. She would like both men connected to her son’s premature demise to be charged with murder— not only the triggerman.
Nikki Cole posted her feelings about Rick Chow, the Columbia, South Carolina, Shell gas station owner that shot Carmack-Belton, and his son Andy, who helped chase him down to his death on Sunday, May 28 around 8 p.m.
Cole took to social media during the Father’s Day weekend, calling for officials to expand the list of who should be responsible for ending her son’s life.
Related Story: ‘Water or Life?’: South Carolina Convenience Store Owner Chased and Gunned Down Black 14-Year-Old Boy Falsely Accused of Stealing Bottled Water, Police Say
“My son Cyrus Monroe Carmack-Belton was murdered May 28, 2023,” she captioned the Facebook post. “Rick Chow racially profiled and falsely accused Cyrus of stealing. Rick Chow and his son Andy Chow chased my 14 yr. old son off the gas station property and down Springtree Dr. shooting him in the back. Rick Chow was arrested but his son remains free. (Andy Chow initiated the chase of my beloved son).”
Cole continued to ask her network of influence to contact the Solicitor of the Fifth Circuit Byron Gipson and demand that they consider the son and the father for murder in Carmack-Belton’s slaying.
The elder Chow is currently facing a murder charge and remains detained at the Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center.
The Chows believed the 14-year-old stole four water bottles out of the cooler from their South Carolina convenience store during Memorial Day weekend.
Chow’s son allegedly told his father that the teenager was armed.
While deputies said the young man did not have a weapon, they allegedly found a firearm near Carmack-Belton’s body following the shooting.
As the two men chased after the teen, Richland County Sheriff…
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