Memorial gathering honors the life of slain 14-year-old Cyrus Carmack-Belton
COLUMBIA, SC (WOLO) — Following the not guilty verdict of former store owner Rick Chow, members of the community came together Wednesday evening to honor slain 14-year-old Cyrus Carmack-Belton.
“(I remember) his bright smile, he was a really good kid. He was really loving. I can’t imagine what he was going through or feeling being chased down by 2 grown men. It’s very horrifying,” says friend of Cyrus, Makayh Wingard.
The area where Cyrus died is now surrounded by flowers, angels, and water bottles after the 14-year-old was falsely accused by the Chows of shoplifting water.
“They wanna call him a young man but he was a child, and no child deserves to be shot in the back over water,” says Wingard.
Neighbors brought wind chimes, solar lights, and bubbles, and left notes in a handcrafted box to celebrate Cyrus’s short life and show support to his parents – Nicole and Troy.
“Please know that you have the community supporting you and my prayers will be with you and we’re gonna keep on keeping on,” says Gina.
“We will never see him, we will never know what he could’ve been, where he could’ve been, what he would’ve brought for us as family. We are lost for words,” says Cyrus’ dad, Troy Belton.
“I just learned today that in South Carolina, if it’s a murder charge, they cannot bring any of your prior acts. Rick Chow shot two people before. Rick Chow accosted a child and beat her up — and none of that information could be brought — and I don’t think that’s fair, and if that is on the law books, that needs to be changed, because if that was not there then my son would have gotten justice!” says Cyrus’ mom, Nicole Carmack.
Andy Chow testified that Cyrus pointed a gun at him, leading Rick Chow to fire the fatal shot.
Nicole and Troy’s attorney, Todd Rutherford says they will continue to take civil action.
“And we’re not going to just lose our children and go silently into the night. We’re not going to lose our children to someone who chases our children down over 130 yards as they lean over and try to get up,” says Rutherford.
The memorial gathering ended with the crowd calling his name, “Cyrus! — Cyrus!”
And then was followed by a sea of bubbles, as over 100 adults and children blew bubbles in honor of the 14-year-old.
