DONKEY: Rick Chow Found Not Guilty After Shooting 14-Year-Old-Boy In The Back

Summary

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The Breakfast Club – “Donkey of the Day: Rick Chow Found Not Guilty After Shooting 14-Year-Old Boy In The Back”

Date: June 2, 2026
Hosts: DJ Envy, Jess Hilarious, Charlamagne Tha God
Podcast Network: The Black Effect Podcast Network & iHeartPodcasts

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Episode Overview

This episode centers on Charlamagne Tha God’s "Donkey of the Day" segment, which addresses the controversial acquittal of Rick Chow—a convenience store owner in South Carolina—who shot and killed 14-year-old Cyrus Belton in 2023. The hosts reflect on the legal, ethical, and human dimensions of the case, voicing frustration at the verdict and discussing broader issues of vigilantism, self-defense, and racial injustice.

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Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Case Recap & Immediate Reactions

• Charlamagne introduces Rick Chow as "Donkey of the Day" for his actions and the subsequent trial outcome.

• Summary of the incident: Rick Chow, 61, shot Cyrus Belton, 14, outside his store after suspecting him of stealing water. Belton, who was black, was shot in the back after a chase, despite apparently putting the water bottles back.

• The legal defense: Chow claimed self-defense, saying Belton pointed a gun at him, a point disputed in court.

• Jury verdict: Chow was found not guilty, raising shock and anger in the community.

  “Donkey of the day for Tuesday, June 2nd goes to Rick Chow. He is a 61 year old convenience store owner in Columbia, South Carolina. And yesterday he was found not guilty of the 2023 shooting of a 14 year old named Cyrus Belton.”
  — Charlamagne Tha God [02:41]

2. Emotional Responses from the Community

• News audio with family reactions and attorney statements is played.

• Emphasis on the sense of injustice and palpable anger following the verdict.

  “A child, a 14 year old child shot dead in Richland got no justice... The anger is palpable tonight.”
  — WIS 10 News / community responders [03:32–03:45]

3. Legal vs. Moral Reasoning

• Charlamagne distinguishes the legal acquittal from his decision to give ‘Donkey of the Day.’

• He questions the logic of self-defense in this context, given the chase and the fact that Belton was retreating.

  “Common sense tells me... if prosecutors said child chased the teen more than 130 yards from the store, I don’t see how that’s self defense.”
  — Charlamagne Tha God [04:30]

• Importance of de-escalation and calling police instead of taking the law into one’s own hands.

  “Every situation does not require escalation. And this was clearly one of those situations, OK? Why turn a minor dispute into a permanent consequence?”
  — Charlamagne Tha God [05:36]

• He cites the difference between New Jersey and South Carolina law:

  “You generally cannot use deadly force, like shooting a gun against someone who is fleeing, retreating, or running away, OK?... If an attacker is retreating, the imminent threat is passed, making the use of deadly force unjustifiable.”
  — Charlamagne Tha God [07:49]

4. Host Panel Discussion: Justice & Accountability

• Jess: Expresses disbelief and confusion, echoing frustration at a system that allowed an armed shop owner to justify shooting a boy who was running away.

• Envy: Highlights the inescapable fact—the victim was shot in the back—undermining self-defense arguments.

  “He got shot in his back, so, I mean, obviously he wasn’t... he was running away.”
  — Envy [09:23]

• The hosts discuss the value of property versus human life and the irresponsibility of chasing a suspect over a minor theft.

  “Water bottles can be replaced. Human lives cannot.”
  — Charlamagne Tha God [08:36]

5. Witness Testimonies and Contradictions

• The team references multiple witnesses who stated they didn’t see Belton threaten Chow or brandish a weapon while fleeing.

  “It says all the witnesses testified that they didn't see anything in that young man's hand. They didn't see him point of gun when he ran from the store. Yeah, they didn't see any of that.”
  — Jess [09:11]

6. Systemic Critiques and Calls for Change

• The discussion shifts briefly to the legal system enabling such outcomes.
• Charlamagne and Jess critique the pursuit of vigilante justice and reinforce the need for proper legal processes, especially in racially charged cases.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Charlamagne Tha God (passing the "Donkey of the Day" judgment):

  “Too many people want to play police officer, judge, jury, and in this case, executioner... Just because you think somebody did something wrong doesn’t give you the authority to chase them down and kill them.”
  [06:20]

• Jess Hilarious (frustrated at logic of shooting someone fleeing):

  “If he's running, you can. If he's leaving, you can. If it's back towards you, you can.”
  [08:14]

• Envy (on the insufficient justification for deadly force):

  “Even if he did take four bottles of water, but he put it back. ...that's...wow.”
  [09:38]

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• Introduction & Segment Setup: [02:05–02:41]
• Case Background & Recap: [02:41–04:30]
• Legal & Moral Analysis: [04:30–08:10]
• Hosts’ Debate: [08:10–09:56]
• Notable Quotes Reflecting Key Insights: [06:20], [08:36]

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Tone & Language

• The conversation is candid, direct, and emotionally charged, reflecting the hosts’ deep frustration at a verdict they view as symptomatic of broader injustices.
• Hosts maintain their signature blend of humor and seriousness, but the gravity of the case is never overshadowed.

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Summary Takeaways

• The acquittal of Rick Chow for shooting Cyrus Belton has left many feeling that justice was not served, echoing national anxieties over the value placed on Black lives and on vigilantism.
• The hosts universally agree that escalation, especially in a minor dispute, is inexcusable—and that lives must be valued above property.
• Despite the legal outcome, “Donkey of the Day” serves to highlight what the hosts see as a moral failing by both individual and system.

---

For listeners and non-listeners alike, this episode provides an incisive, emotionally honest critique of the verdict and opens an urgent conversation about how such cases continue to challenge America's conscience.

Transcript

[Sanjana Bhasker]

This is an iHeart podcast. Guaranteed Human.

[Nick Jonas]

Hey, guys, it's us, the Jonas Brothers.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

I'm Joe. I'm Kevin.

[Nick Jonas]

And I'm Nick. And guess what? We created our own podcast called hey Jonas.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

We invented a podcast.

[Nick Jonas]

Well, we didn't invent it.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

We.

[Nick Jonas]

We just contributed to the first people to do podcasts.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

We get to ask other people questions because we're sick and tired of being asked questions.

[Nick Jonas]

Well, sick and tired is a strong way to put it, but, you know, tired and sick. Tired and sick. Listen to hey Jonas on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Just listen. We don't care where you hear it.

[Sanjana Bhasker]

Why are we all so obsessed with romance? On the Radio 831 podcast, join us, Sanjana Bhasker and Tyler McCall as we unpack all the trending tropes, buzzy adaptations, booktok drama and celebrity love stories with hot takes and sharp guests. Each episode digs into what these stories reveal about desire, fantasy, identity, and how we love. Now Listen to the Radio 831 podcast on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or. Or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Carlos King]

If you're watching the latest season of the Real Housewives of Atlanta, you already know there's a lot to break down.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Portia accusing Kelly of sleeping with a married man. They holding K Michelle back from fighting. Drew Pinky has financial issues on the

[Carlos King]

podcast Reality with the King. I, Carlos King, recap the biggest moments from your favorite reality shows, including the Real Housewives franchise, the drama, the alliances, and the tea everybody's talking about. To hear this and more. Listen to Reality with the king on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcast.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

What's up, fam?

[Isaiah Thomas]

It's Isaiah Thomas and I'm CJ Toledano.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

It's our favorite time of the year on our podcast, Point game, the playoffs.

[Isaiah Thomas]

We're digging into the biggest surprises of the season, and I'm looking back on some of my greatest playoff moments. If we didn't talk ever again, I was firing you.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

You just understood.

[Isaiah Thomas]

That's how personal it got. Wow. Then after that game seven, Marquis coming to, like, you know, I love you, dog. You know, it's all love. This was just playoffs. This was just basketball.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

So listen to Point game on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. Made it. It's time for donkey of the Day. There's a bunch of donkeys out here in these streets out of Made Donkey of the day called Donkey of the Day. It really caught me off guard. We live a life where we bite our tongue based off who we may offend. We never would say anything. Charlamagne, Give it to him. Give it to him. You are a donkey.

[Envy]

That is why Charlemagne,

[Charlamagne Tha God]

some donkey today's just saw themselves on the Breakfast Club. Okay, Charlamagne, who you giving donkey of the day to today? You know what, Taylor, you check your next check. You getting a bonus.

[Envy]

I know that's right.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Drop on the clue. Tell her. Out here working man. Just doing all these great intros. Donkey of the day for Tuesday, June 2nd goes to Rick Chow. He is a 61 year old convenience store owner in Columbia, South Carolina. And yesterday he was found not guilty of the 2023 shooting of a 14 year old named Cyrus Belton. Sending healing energy to the family of Cyrus Belton. RIP to that young bro. 14 years old, shot and killed by Rick Chow. The prosecution and defense of course had different stories. Prosecutors said Chow acted in anger because he wrongly thought the teen had stolen four bottles of water from the store. A defense lawyer said child fired to defend his only son after the teen pointed a gun at him. Let's go to WIS 10 for the report, please.

[WIS 10 Reporter]

Well, emotions are high and the verdict was not just a shock for the family of Cyrus Carmack Belton, but also people that have been following this case from the very beginning.

[Isaiah Thomas]

A child, a 14 year old child shot dead in Richland got no justice.

[WIS 10 Reporter]

Cyrus's dad, too distraught to speak, but stood beside his attorney Todd Rutherford, who says the system has failed this family.

[Isaiah Thomas]

The anger is palpable tonight.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

You can feel it.

[Isaiah Thomas]

You can touch it.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

257. Yes.

[Envy]

Is this still your verdict?

[WIS 10 Reporter]

Earlier, the state argued that the case was about the value of human life and that Cyrus feared for his life as Rick Chow and his son chased him out of the store with with a gun. Cha's defense team argued Cha was defending himself and his son as Carmack Belton also had a loaded gun on him. Cha's son testified that he pointed the gun at him, prompting Cha to shoot him. In the end, the jury sided with the defense. Rutherford says while people have the right to be angry about the verdict, he's encouraging everyone to use their voices rather than reacting any other way.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

What I can tell you is that

[Isaiah Thomas]

this should not have happened. That is an unbelievable situation, but it is one that unfortunately we have to deal with as best we can.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Oof. Now I get it. The 14 year old had a loaded firearm in South Carolina, I believe you have to be 21 to purchase a handgun. If you're 18 to 20, state law says you can legally acquire and possess handguns through private sales or as a gift from your immediate family. I also know that a jury found Rick Child not guilty. And in America, that's how the legal system works. Well, Donkey of the day is an illegal award, okay? It's a common sense award. And common sense tells me, okay, Charlemagne to God, Leonard McKelvey, that if you're chasing a 14 year old child, okay, if prosecutors said child chased the teen more than 130 yards from the store, I don't see how that's self defense. Okay? How are you protecting your son if you're the one in pursuit? Okay? According to prosecutor, Cyrus never stole the water, put the bottles back, ran from the store, and was eventually shot in the back after a chase. Just heard the news report. Defense argued that child protecting his son because the teen had a gun and pointed it at him. Hey, if that happened and you would have pulled your gun out and defended your son in that scenario, then I would completely understand. But here's the thing. I don't see no proof that that happened, okay? And if that young man did that and ran away, why would you run after him? Okay, see, that's the problem. Too many people want to play police officer, judge, jury, and in this case, executioner. Okay? If you think someone shoplifted, call the cops, okay? If you say this young man pulled a gun on you and threatened the life of your son, but then ran away, call the cops, okay? Every situation does not require escalation. And this was clearly one of those situations, okay? Why turn a minor dispute into a permanent consequence? Nobody should lose their life over something that could have been handled with a phone call to 91 1, all right? Being angry doesn't give you the right to be deputy deputized, okay? You are not the law, Rick Chow, all right? Hell, it wouldn't be justified if they did it either, all right? Just because you think somebody did something wrong doesn't give you the authority to chase them down and kill them, okay? And now, multiple witnesses testified that they didn't see anything in Cyrus Belton's hands and didn't see him point a gun as he ran from the store. Prosecutors acknowledged the young man, Cyrus Belton, had a semi automatic pistol, but they said it fell on the ground during the chase and he never threatened anyone with it. I know people are going to keep talking about the fact this young man had a pistol, but he Got chased down and shot in the back. Okay? I'm not a lawyer, so I'm not gonna sit here and act like I know why legally, this man, Rick Chow got off. Because to me, honestly, all I see is a young black man getting shot and killed over a situation that shouldn't have escalated to this, okay? Sometimes the best thing you can do is let law enforcement handle it after the fact. Now, I'm a South Carolina native, born and raised. That is home. But New Jersey is my home, too. And in New Jersey, okay, me and Envy discussed this a lot for some reason. I don't know why. We've discussed this a lot over our lives since we've known each other, but you generally cannot use deadly force, like shooting a gun against someone who is fleeing, retreating, or running away, okay? The law requires that you only use deadly force if you reasonably believe it is immediately necessary to prevent death or serious bodily harm. If an attacker is retreating, the imminent threat is passed, making the use of deadly force unjustifiable. That's New Jersey, okay? And under New Jersey's castle doctrine, you do not have a duty to retreat if you are inside your home, provided you did not initiate the conflict. However, you still cannot use deadly force against the intruder, burglar, whatever it is, if they are turning to flee, are clearly retreating. That's. That's the debate me and you've had over the years. Because I'll be like, pop that right. Okay? I pop that person, whoever it is, but she legally can't do that.

[Jess]

If he's running, you can. If he's leaving, you can. If it's back towards you, you can.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

And listen, that sounds perfectly rational to me, okay? I don't know. Legally, okay sounds legally. That sounds perfectly legal. No, no, it sounds rational, too. If somebody's running away from you, if they retreating, okay, But I get it.

[Jess]

You come in somebody's house, I get it.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

You know, they there.

[Jess]

What are you coming there for? Knowing I'm there.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Like, I get it. The house is different, though. How's it. I just don't know how you justify chasing someone down and shooting them in the back. If this young man had shot your son and you were so full of rage you went after him, I could understand. But I can't wrap my mind around this one, okay? If somebody can run away from you, then they aren't an immediate threat to you. Okay, Let him go. Water bottles can be replaced. Human lives cannot. Please give Rick Chow the biggest he hauled.

[Envy]

Yeah, that's super duper sound. Not guilty Is wild, horrible.

[Jess]

Yeah, and I don't understand it because looking at the case, it says all the witnesses testified that they didn't see anything in that young man's hand. They didn't see him point of gun when he ran from the store. Yeah, they didn't see any of that.

[Envy]

I mean, well, he got shot in his back, so, I mean, obviously he wasn't. He was running away.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

And house is different from a convenience store.

[Envy]

Yes.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

You know what I'm saying? Your convenience store, even if you own it, yo, you can replace whatever, you know, you said this guy took.

[Envy]

And then it was four bottles of water. Even if he did take four bottles of water, but he put it back.

[Jess]

He didn't. They said he didn't take any bottles of water.

[Envy]

But I'm just. I'm just saying, even if he did, you shoot him in the back because he took four bottles of water.

[Jess]

That's just. That's.

[Carlos King]

Wow.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

And if you were scared of the young man, why would you go running after him even with your fist?

[Envy]

He was running from you.

[Jess]

I don't know, man.

[Envy]

All right, all right.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Well, thank you. That young man's family. Absolutely.

[Jess]

Well, thank you for that. Donkey of the day. Now, Jess was reading. Seen online yesterday, right?

[Envy]

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. So they said we got audio for it, but a woman called off a wedding when she found out her fiance slept with several men when he was in college. Damn. He ended up telling the truth about it. He ended up telling her the truth

[Charlamagne Tha God]

about that white dress.

[Envy]

But, like, why would you. Yo, please stop.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

What's wrong with you?

[Envy]

Why would you wait this long to tell her that?

[Charlamagne Tha God]

You know that.

[Envy]

Well, that's why I said I would. Went to my grave with it. But I. The only reason that would make me tell it is if. Yeah, but. But if some of the people that I slept with was going to tell her and maybe he tried to get ahead of it, like, that's the only way that it would come out. But like, yo, why. Like, ah. Like, why would you tell her after you propose to her? That's something that you get out the way. That's.

[Jess]

So he was gay in college, but not gay anymore.

[Envy]

Or he may have been bi in college, but yeah, gay, bi, college.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Oh, no. You sleep with several men. Ain't no bye, bye, bye nothing.

[Envy]

Yeah, but this was during, you know, he had a. You know, he had a phase. You know what I'm saying? A gay era in college.

[Jess]

But, you know, the crazy thing is if it was a man and you found out Your woman had a phase with women in college? Most. I think most dudes would be cool as a hoe.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Okay. You sleep with several men. You sleep with several men, male or female?

[Sanjana Bhasker]

Yeah.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Okay. I just need to know who doing the bending.805.

[Nick Jonas]

That's right.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Why she called it off?

[Envy]

Because that's probably the question that he didn't answer.

[Jess]

10:51. So what's the question? What's the reason you had to call off an engagement?

[Charlamagne Tha God]

What?

[Envy]

With me, I never had to call off an engagement.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

So what do you care about who was doing the business, doing the best?

[Isaiah Thomas]

That is not the question.

[Envy]

No. Because it also depends on how gay he was. You know what I mean? Like, it's not it. If you are doing.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Ah.

[Envy]

Would you rather be the one taking it?

[Charlamagne Tha God]

No, I think it's just a lot of women, I think. I think in this era, it's a lot more women who have been in these situations, a lot more women are finding out that these men are playing on the other side, you know?

[Envy]

All right, well, I'm just glad that he did tell her.

[Jess]

Well, let's open up the phone lines. If you heard, if this is Situation.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Situation.

[Envy]

Yeah.

[Jess]

This situation happened to you, what would you do? Or if you've been in this situation, let's discuss 800-585-1051 in Charlemagne. I swear on everything, I will fight you if you come back to work with your heel sticking out of your socks.

[Envy]

Like, it's offensive. We're on Netflix now. Like, yo, come on.

[Jess]

It's offensive to me.

[Envy]

Why do you have, like, you have

[Jess]

a whole hole in your sock.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

I can see the bottom of your damn heel.

[Envy]

And that was the same sock he had on last week. He do not have socks, y'.

[WIS 10 Reporter]

All.

[Jess]

I'm gonna buy you some socks.

[Envy]

Put your cash up out there.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Yeah, I'm gonna buy you some socks. Come on.

[Jess]

It's the Breakfast Club.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Come on. Donkey of the Day is sponsored by renowned personal injury attorney Michael the Bull. Laugh, don't be a donkey. When you need a fighter on your side. If you're ever injured, go to Michael the Bull dot com. That's Michael the Bull dot com. And when you mess with the Bull, you.

[Nick Jonas]

Hey, guys, it's us, the Jonas Brothers.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

I'm Joe. I'm Kevin.

[Nick Jonas]

And I'm Nick. And guess what? We created our own podcast called hey, Jonas.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

We invented a podcast.

[Nick Jonas]

Well, we didn't invent it.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

We.

[Nick Jonas]

We just contributed to it. First people to do podcasts.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

We get to ask other people questions because we're sick and tired of being asked questions.

[Nick Jonas]

Well, sick and tired is a strong way to put it, but, you know, tired and sick. Tired and sick. Listen to hey Jonas on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. Just listen. We don't care where you hear it.

[Sanjana Bhasker]

Why are we all so obsessed with romance on the Radio 831 podcast? Join us, Sanjana Bhasker and Tyler McCall as we unpack all the trending tropes, buzzy adaptations, booktok drama and celebrity love stories with hot takes and sharp guests. Each episode digs into what these stories reveal about desire, fantasy, identity, and how we love. Now listen to the Radio 831 podcast on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Carlos King]

If you're watching the latest season of the Real Housewives of Atlanta, you already know there's a lot to break down.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Portia accusing Kelly of sleeping with a married man. They holding K. Michelle back from fighting. Drew Pinky has financial issues on the

[Carlos King]

podcast Reality with the King. I, Carlos King recap the biggest moments from your favorite reality shows, including the Real Housewives franchise, the drama, the alliances and the tea everybody's talking about. To hear this and more. Listen to Reality with the king on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast.

[Isaiah Thomas]

What's up, fam? It's Isaiah Thomas and I'm CJ Toledano.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

It's our favorite time of the year on our podcast Point game, the playoffs.

[Isaiah Thomas]

We're digging into the biggest surprises of the season, and I'm looking back on some of my greatest playoff moments. If we didn't talk ever again, I was firing. You just understood that's how personal it get.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Wow.

[Isaiah Thomas]

Then after that game seven, Marquis coming. He's like, you know I love you, dog. You know it's all love. This was just playoffs. This was just basketball.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

So listen to Point game on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Envy]

This is an iHeart podcast.

[Sanjana Bhasker]

Guaranteed Human.