Protestors seek justice for Cyrus Carmack-Belton
Richland County Sheriff Leon Lott blocked the street for protestors after Rick Chow was found not-guilty on murder charges in Columbia, SC. Chow shot and killed Cyrus Carmack-Belton in 2023. (Photos made in Columbia on June 3, 2026 by Sean Rayford)
Words and photos by Sean Rayford
Protesters were losing their voices. They challenged one another to speak up and lead but those challenged had the same response. Their voices were shot.
But, they wanted to be louder.
So they sat in the middle of Parklane Rd. on Tuesday night, hundreds of feet from where Cyrus Carmack-Belton was shot by Rick Chow in 2023.
“He was charged with murder, which is what he should have been convicted of. I’m pissed off as much as anybody else. I made the arrest. It is our case. I’m not happy about it one bit,” said Richland County Sheriff Leon Lott, when he rolled up on foot after protestors blocked the four lane road near Columbia Mall.
“This is not right, we just gotta do it in the right way. What y’all are doing tonight is a nice peaceful protest. We blocked the street off, so y’all can have the street.”
Sheriff Leon Lott says Rick Chow no longer owns the Shell gas station on Parklane Rd.
Chow, found not-guilty the evening before on murder charges, shot the 14 year-old in the back more than a football field away from the store in Columbia, South Carolina. According to Lott, Chow had wrongfully accused the young man of stealing a bottle of water.
Carmack-Belton was also armed and Rick Chow’s son testified that his father saved his life when he shot the 14 year-old in the back.
“Us coming together, standing like this. This is power. Power got the street blocked off. Power got them out here wondering what the fuck we're about to do next,” said Jerome Bowers, an local activist and community leader, “But listen, we gotta use our power to get people who think like us, who feel what we feel in the position to make the decisions that led to this fucked up outcome in the first place. We got to get out there and hit the box. The voting box. And get Byron Gipson the fuck up outta office.”
Gipson is the Solicitor of the Fifth Circuit, who prosecuted Chow.
Tuesday’s protest stretched about a half mile along Parklane Rd., when protestors marched to Blaney’s Wings and Grill.
“Justice was not served. We’re upset about the situation and he is someone’s child. And we have kids also. and I don’t feel right at all,” said Kysha Brown.
Brown drove across town from the Broad River community and protested outside the Shell Station for more than three hours.
Protestors gathered on Parklane on Tuesday from midday through at least sunset, when their numbers exceeded 200. They demonstrated the night before. And three years ago, the day after Carmack-Belton was shot and killed.
“It’s never been legal to shoot someone who is fleeing, there is no way you are scared of a running man,” said one protester who chose to withhold his name. “That’s why I’m out here.”
Richland County Sheriff Leon Lott talks to protestor about how he is pissed off with not guilty verdict against Rick Chow after he shot and killed Cyrus Carmack-Belton.
Members of law enforcement install more barricades around the gas station around 5:30 pm.
