A gas station owner in South Carolina is currently facing murder charges following a tragic shooting incident involving a fourteen-year-old boy. The owner, Rick Chow, who is 58 years old, allegedly shot the teenager in the back after wrongly accusing him of shoplifting. This is not the first time Chow has resorted to using his weapon in his store, Your Content has learned.
In 2018, Chow shot a man in the leg after catching him attempting to steal a can of Easy Off. The incident occurred when the man struck Chow in the face, prompting him to fire two shots in self-defense. The gas station owner was not charged in that case as it was deemed an act of self-defense.
Similarly, in 2015, Chow fired shots at a shoplifter’s car after the individual stole peanuts and cases of Bud Light from his store. Again, authorities ruled that Chow was acting in self-defense, and he faced no charges.
However, the recent tragedy involving the fourteen-year-old boy has taken a different turn. Surveillance footage indicates that the teenager did not steal the bottled water, as initially suspected by Chow and his son. Despite the boy never drawing or pointing his weapon, Chow fired a single shot into his lower back, resulting in the teenager’s death.
Law enforcement officials have stated that because the teenager did not pose a threat, self-defense cannot be argued. Sheriff Leon Lott revealed that Chow admitted to deputies that the boy had not brandished his weapon. As a result, Chow is currently in custody awaiting a bond hearing.
It has come to light that Chow has made numerous calls to Richland County Sheriff’s deputies over the past five years, seeking assistance in various incidents ranging from shoplifting and larceny to assault, theft, vandalism, robbery, and burglary.
While Chow’s prior encounters involving the use of his weapon were determined to be acts of self-defense, law enforcement authorities are now convinced that the shooting of Cyrus Carmack-Belton constitutes murder. The store has experienced frequent incidents of shoplifting, often resulting in confrontations and physical altercations.
As the investigation continues, the community awaits further developments in this tragic case, which has shaken the local area,‘according to DailyMail.
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