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Dozens rally at South Carolina State House after Chow acquittal in Belton killing

South CarolinaGDELTGDELT event8% biasedSun, Jun 7, 2026, 12:00 AM

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Dozens rally at South Carolina State House after Chow acquittal in Belton killing.State House rally reignites calls for justice after Rick Chow found not guilty COLUMBIA, S.C.(WACH) — Dozens of people returned to the South Carolina State House on Saturday afternoon to rally for justice for Cyrus Carmack-Belton, after a jury found Rick Chow not guilty in the fatal shooting that followed an alleged theft at a gas station.Carmack-Belton was shot in the back and killed after being pursued more than 100 yards by Chow, who accused him of stealing a water bottle from a gas station.After what was described as a long and complicated trial, the verdict came back not guilty.Since then, rallies, memorials and protests have continued across the Midlands.At Saturday’s rally, Carmack-Belton’s mother, Nicole Carmack, spoke about her son’s death.My son died.He bled out on the side of the road with strangers.The last person's face that my son saw was his murderer,” she said.Lawmakers, advocates and loved ones gathered at the State House to keep the movement going and build momentum, with chants calling for justice.Todd Rutherford, a Democrat from Richland County, urged people to stay involved and engaged.“Get involved, watch the news, stay engaged, see what is going on in your community and make a difference when you see gun violence.We all have to say it's important that we stop it,” Rutherford said.“But it's not just gun violence when we see it in our own community.It's gun violence like Mr.Chow and Cyrus.All of it has to stop.” The rally’s organizer, 20-year-old Jadann Hill, said young people can help drive change by speaking out, voting and paying attention to policy debates.“The more young people come out and speak against things, the more we come out and start voting when we turn 18, the more we look at policies and pay attention to the news,” Hill said.“I know a lot of people my age don't watch the news, but it's something we need to pay attention to.We need to research the policies and laws being introduced in South Carolina so we can support them or work to change things happening around us.” Participants also pushed for legislation in the upcoming session.Supporters are calling for the Cyrus Harlins Martins Pursuit and Deadly Force Accountability Act, which would create criminal penalties for non-law enforcement citizens who pursue someone, then cause their death during that pursuit and claim self-defense.Supporters say the bill is intended to prevent similar cases by limiting when a person can claim self-defense.Leotis Fields, a bill advocate, said, “None of this would have ever happened if Chow and his son had not pursued the individual.” Fields added, “If we get enough support behind it, anything is possible.” A vigil was also held at the State House later Saturday afternoon.More memorials and protests are expected in the coming weeks.