The Xpress Mart comfort retailer is seen on Tuesday, May 30, 2023, in Columbia, S.C.

Jeffrey Collins/AP

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Jeffrey Collins/AP

The Xpress Mart comfort retailer is seen on Tuesday, May 30, 2023, in Columbia, S.C.

Jeffrey Collins/AP

COLUMBIA, S.C. — A South Carolina gasoline station proprietor accused of chasing a 14-year-old boy from his retailer and fatally capturing him within the again made his first court docket look Tuesday on a homicide cost within the dying.

Rick Chow thought the boy had shoplifted 4 bottles of water Sunday evening from his Xpress Mart Shell station in Columbia, authorities mentioned. But Cyrus Carmack-Belton put the bottles again within the cooler and was off the shop’s property and working away when he was killed, Richland County Sheriff Leon Lott mentioned.

A gun was discovered close to the teenager’s physique and Chow’s son, who additionally was concerned within the chase, informed his father that Carmack-Belton was armed after the youth fell as he ran, based on the sheriff. But Lott mentioned there was no proof the boy ever pointed the weapon at Chow or his son.

Chow, who had a hid weapons allow, was charged after an post-mortem confirmed the center faculty pupil was shot within the again and deputies spoke to witnesses and reviewed surveillance and different video, Lott mentioned.

Self-defense legislation in South Carolina requires the shooter does not instigate the incident, believes he’s in imminent hazard and has no technique to keep away from that hazard.

“You don’t shoot somebody in the back that is not a threat to you,” the sheriff mentioned. “Same standard the cops live by.”

Chow, 58, is being held within the Richland County jail. Neither he nor his lawyer talked concerning the capturing through the preliminary court docket look or in response to messages from The Associated Press. A bond listening to might be held later.

Richland County Coroner Nadia Rutherford mentioned there was no signal that Carmack-Belton was preventing with Chow earlier than he ran out of the shop and added there was no harm to his physique aside from an abrasion from falling and the gunshot wound,

Both the sheriff and coroner requested for calm from the neighborhood. Social media posts incorrectly mentioned the teenager was kneeling or had his arms up when he was shot. Jail and coroner data haven’t listed the races of the shooter or the teenager.

Rutherford informed a crowd on the gasoline station on Monday that the teenager was shot whereas he was working and the bullet went by means of his again and into his coronary heart. She informed the gang, which was yelling requires justice, to take heed to the information.

“I was at the autopsy I looked at his body inside and outside. He had one shot to the back which is why Mr. Chow is being charged with murder,” the coroner informed the gang.

Deputies have been known as to Chow’s retailer quite a few occasions within the final a number of years for shoplifting complaints and generally they was shoving or scuffling, however Lott mentioned his officers decided Chow was defending himself and he was by no means charged.

Sunday’s capturing was not justified, the sheriff mentioned.

“Even if he had shoplifted four bottles of water, which he had taken out of the cooler and then put back — even if he had done that, that’s not something you should shoot anybody over, much less a 14-year-old,” Lott mentioned.

After Monday’s peaceable protest, Chow’s retailer was damaged into after darkish with shattered home windows and merchandise pulled off cabinets and strewn throughout the ground, Lott mentioned. When deputies arrived, a big group was inside stealing objects, the sheriff mentioned, including he plans to cost these concerned.

“What does stealing a case of beer have to do with a 14-year-old being shot?” Lott mentioned, calling the theft looting.

Deputies are actually watching over the property, the sheriff mentioned.

“The taxpayers are paying for us to guard that store because a limited number of individuals who want to do something like that instead of going out there in memory of this 14-year-old boy,” Lott mentioned.

The whole gasoline station was behind yellow crime scene tape Tuesday morning. Dozens of crushed water bottles littered the car parking zone. Graffiti, most of it “Cyrus” or “14” lined the partitions.

An indication taped to the door learn “Water or Life? Which means more?” Another learn “Close it down!”

Occasionally, a automotive would park for its occupants to take photographs, or somebody would stroll down the sidewalk taking cellphone video.

The day earlier than, the coroner stood close to the gasoline pumps, asking the handfuls gathered there to not flip to violence to assist the grief of the household of Carmack-Belton, who was a pupil at a close-by center faculty.

“Please be peaceful,” Rutherford mentioned. “This family does not need any more trauma related to his death.”