Overview of DONKEY: Rick Chow Found Not Guilty After Shooting 14-Year-Old-Boy In The Back
This episode centers on Charlamagne tha God’s “Donkey of the Day” for Rick Chow, a South Carolina convenience store owner found not guilty in the shooting death of 14-year-old Cyrus Carmack Belton. Charlamagne strongly condemns the verdict and argues that even if the teen had a gun, chasing a fleeing child and shooting him in the back cannot be justified as self-defense. The conversation also briefly shifts to a separate relationship topic about a woman calling off a wedding after learning her fiancé had sexual relationships with men in college, sparking a debate about honesty, disclosure, and “deal-breakers.”
Donkey of the Day: Rick Chow Verdict
What happened
- Rick Chow, 61, was found not guilty in the 2023 shooting death of 14-year-old Cyrus Carmack Belton in Columbia, South Carolina.
- Prosecutors said Chow wrongly believed the teen stole water and escalated the encounter by chasing him.
- The defense argued Chow fired to protect his son after the teen allegedly pointed a gun at him.
Key details from the case
- Multiple witnesses reportedly said they did not see anything in Cyrus’s hands or see him point a gun while fleeing.
- Prosecutors said Cyrus was shot in the back after running from the store.
- The defense maintained that Cyrus had a loaded gun and threatened Chow’s son.
Charlamagne’s take
- He calls the verdict a failure of justice and says the situation should never have escalated.
- His core argument: if someone is running away, they are no longer an immediate threat.
- He criticizes the idea of civilians acting as “police officer, judge, jury, and executioner.”
- He emphasizes that water bottles can be replaced, but a life cannot.
Main takeaway
- The segment frames the case as a tragic example of unnecessary escalation and a system that, in Charlamagne’s view, failed a child and his family.
Broader Discussion: Self-Defense, Retreat, and Deadly Force
Legal and moral point raised
- Charlamagne distinguishes between defending yourself in the moment and pursuing someone who is retreating.
- He notes that in many places, including New Jersey, deadly force is generally not justified if the person is fleeing.
- He acknowledges that self-defense laws vary, but insists this case does not feel defensible because Cyrus was allegedly running away.
Emotional takeaway
- The hosts repeatedly stress that the situation is heartbreaking and that the family deserves healing.
- There is frustration that a minor dispute turned into a fatal outcome.
Side Conversation: Engagement Called Off Over Past Sexual History
What they discussed
- Jess brings up a viral story about a woman who called off her wedding after learning her fiancé had slept with several men in college.
- The fiancé reportedly told the truth about it only after being engaged.
Hosts’ reactions
- The crew debates why he waited so long to disclose it.
- They discuss whether the relationship would change if the fiancé had been bisexual, gay, or simply “going through a phase.”
- Charlamagne argues that honesty should have come earlier and jokes that he would have taken the secret “to the grave.”
Main takeaway
- The discussion centers on trust, transparency, and whether a partner’s sexual history should be disclosed before engagement.
Notable Moments
- Charlamagne: “If somebody is running away from you, then they aren’t an immediate threat.”
- Charlamagne: “Water bottles can be replaced. Human lives cannot.”
- The hosts joke and banter about the engagement story, turning it into a broader conversation about sexual history and relationship honesty.
Bottom Line
This episode is mostly driven by outrage over the Rick Chow verdict and the death of Cyrus Carmack Belton, with Charlamagne arguing that the shooting was an avoidable tragedy caused by reckless escalation. It then pivots into a lighter but still contentious relationship debate about disclosure, sexuality, and trust before wrapping with typical Breakfast Club banter.