Photo of Rick Chow, who has been charged, Monday, May 29, 2023, with murder in the death of a 14-year-old Cyrus Carmack-Belton. (Richland County Sheriff's Department) COLUMBIA, S.C. - A store owner in South Carolina charged with murder this week after shooting a teen he wrongly thought stole water has shot at suspected shoplifters two other times in the past eight years and not faced charges, authorities said.In 2018, Rick Chow confronted a shoplifter at his Xpress Mart Shell station in Columbia and the man attacked him, Richland County deputies said.
Chow fired two shots and wounded the man, who pleaded guilty to charges in the case, in the leg, investigators said.In 2015, Chow fired several shots at a vehicle after he tried to stop someone he suspected of shoplifting, and the suspect got into the vehicle and threatened to shoot Chow, deputies said.
No one was hurt.RELATED: South Carolina gas station owner charged with murder in 14-year-old boy's shooting deathIn both cases, authorities said Chow's actions were not criminal.
Self-defense law in South Carolina requires the shooter doesn’t instigate the incident, believes he is in imminent danger and has no way to avoid that danger.Photo of convenience store vandalized in Columbia, South Carolina.