Community members mourn 14-year-old teen fatally shot near Columbia convenience store

COLUMBIA, S.C. (WIS) - Community members are continuing to mourn the loss of Cyrus Carmack-Belton, the 14-year-old teen who was shot and killed near a Columbia convenience store Sunday.

A makeshift memorial sits in the same area where Carmack-Belton was shot and killed, growing with flowers, stuffed animals, and even water bottles.

Community members say the loss has become a loss for the entire community.

“It’s just sad. That didn’t have to happen,” said 16-year-old Kevin Snyder one of many adding flowers to a growing makeshift memorial for the teen.

Snyder said this incident hit close to home.

“This really could’ve been me. This could’ve been anybody,” Snyder said, “I think Leon Lott said it best. A bottle of water should not cost a person’s life. Especially a 14-year-old in our community.”

Community members are coming together in the midst of the incident, but some say they are also outraged by what took place.

“With this being not only his first but his third infraction me as a citizen and activist want to know why this wasn’t stopped the second time or the first time that this happened,” said community activist John Tyler.

Tyler told WIS about a previous incident involving 58-year-old Rick Chow, the owner of the Shell gas station on Parklane Road.

In a video that Tyler shared, Chow is seen fighting a young customer.

“It’s happened before but this time was just fatal,” Tyler said.

Chow was charged with murder in the death of the young boy Monday.

According to the Richland County Sheriff’s Department (RCSD), Chow chased Carmack-Belton from his store around 8 p.m. and shot him just down the road in the 200 block of Springtree Drive.

Chow suspected Carmack-Belton of shoplifting inside the store; however, RCSD has said did not happen in a press conference Monday.

Richland County coroner Naida Rutherford said the teen had one gunshot wound to the right lower back.

RCSD reported previous incidents involving Chow.

Deputies said Chow fired approximately six shots at the vehicle. No one was injured.

In 2018, deputies said Chow confronted a shoplifter that then reportedly assaulted Chow. Chow fired at the man twice, striking him in the leg.

The was treated at a local hospital and later pled guilty to charges stemming from this incident, RCSD stated.

In 2015, Mr. Chow attempted to stop an individual stealing items, that individual then entered a vehicle and threatened to shoot Mr. Chow. Mr. Chow fired approximately six shots at the vehicle. No one was injured.

RCSD said Chow’s conduct in the above incidents did not meet the requirements under South Carolina law to support criminal charges.

District Seven Councilwoman Gretchen Barron also came to the gas station and memorial saying the community just needs to support Cyrus’ family for now.

“They don’t have their child. That’s heartbreaking to me that they don’t have their child. So I want us to wrap our arms around this family first and allow them to heal and as we moved forward as a community,” said Barron, “Let’s remember that when this is all said and done, this is where we live.”

The community will hold a prayer vigil in honor of Carmack-Belton on Friday night in the parking lot of Springtree Place, right across the street from the gas station.

Funeral arrangements for the teen were announced Wednesday.

Carmack-Belton’s viewing will be on Friday, June 2 at Leevy’s Funeral Home at 1831 Taylor Street in Columbia.

The viewing will be from 3 p.m. until 6 p.m.

The funeral will be on Saturday, June 3 at Second Nazareth Baptist Church at 2300 Elmwood Avenue in Columbia.

The funeral will begin at noon.

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