Posted: 6/3/2026 5:53:42 AM EDT
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Had to post this here for some honest takes from some fellow pro 2A South Carolinians. Somehow I only learned of this case this morning via a legal youtube channel I like (The Lawyer You Know). Anyway, at first blush this is really hard to understand. I have CCW from Arizona and SC and had always understood that I lose the right to lawful self defense shooting if I initiated the altercation. I.e. I go up to a guy and say "I am gonna kick your butt" then he pulls a gun so I pull mine and shoot first. I lose because even though he initiated the threat of deadly force, I initiated the altercation. Anyway, this case is not the same thing but I can't see how you can chase someone who you believe is running away with stolen property then still claim self defense if they pull a gun. Was this a case of overcharging since he was charged with murder and the jury didn't have the option for something lesser? If that's the case it might make more sense to me because I wouldn't say this is murder but the way this looks to me this was not a good shoot either. I am truly open to hearing where I am wrong on this. I hope I am actually because I think cases like this can push reasonable people away from supporting our rights to self defense. https://www.wistv.com/2026/06/02/protesters-gather-columbia-area-gas-station-after-acquittal-rick-chow-trial/ |
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IANAL, the media is so obviously biased it's ridiculous (as always) and the details obfuscated and I hadn't really been keeping up with it. That said, once he was found unanimously not guilty I tried to figure out what happened. It sounds like the prosecutor's office overcharged with the murder charge, hoping Richland County would be, well, Richland County. I'm guessing the prosecution went for murder based on politics and feels and it didn't end up meeting the standards and that the defense was able to show that the dead guy became the aggressor and lost the right to claim self defense when he produced the firearm and the pursuer retreated. From something I was reading on the case, and from a buddy who's a lawyer, but not a criminal lawyer and hasn't seen the evidence either, there is no law that says you can't pursue a suspected thief, there are laws that say what you can and can't do if you catch them. In this case, as near as they could tell, when the dead dude fell he produced a gun, Chow's son put up his hands, yelled to his father than he had a gun and he (Chow's son) was backing off, discontinuing the pursuit. Chow, hearing "gun" and fearing for his son's life, shot once. From what it sounds like, like so many "shot in the back so it's definitely murder" shootings, the dead kid produced the gun, younger Chow yells gun, older chow says drop the gun, dead guy doesn't drop the gun and by the time Chow decides to pull the trigger the dead dude is turning trying to get up- delayed response time between decision to shoot and shot fired so shot in the back. Their whole argument seemed to be that the kid didn't end up actually steeling anything (apparently he either started to or he did put them in his hoodie pocket then took them out, not sure which) while the defense was able to show that the theft was not relevant to the shooting itself. The father had the right to shoot "in defense of others", at that particular moment since dead dude had effectively become the aggressor. There was zero way I'd have bet he'd be found not guilty but, just based on what I read and posted above, it sounds like he wasn't guilty of murder and the jury made the right call. Of course Chow lost the store and some Indians took over and the usual suspects all want to burn it down even though the current owners had nothing to do with the events; the sheriff's dept is having to protect the place from them. The same retards can't grasp why nobody but Asians and Indians will operate stores in their communities and get upset when one of their own gets capped after bad things keep happening to the store/store employees/owners and then nobody wants to invest in their area and it becomes a "food desert".  All of this is just another retard's take on it, mine, just based I'm what I've been seeing and hearing- anyone with more info or smarter feel free to correct any of it. 
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Originally Posted By atavistic: I remember when it happened, and I don't remember the media mentioning the perp was packing. It sounds like the kind of neighborhood I don't want to stop for gas and a pack of nabs. When I move back to SC after paying the SC DMV "your car insurance lapsed for 30 microseconds" fine, I am moving to Richland County NE in the Summit. The neighborhood seems to offer gun fights with RCSD. Great way to meet my On Patrol:Live RCSD heroes!! https://www.wistv.com/2026/06/04/1-dead-after-richland-county-shootout-up-10-possible-suspects-involved/ https://www.wltx.com/article/news/local/richland-county-sheriffs-dept-responding-to-a-reported-shooting-in-the-summit-neighborhood/101-818beed2-ee4e-4b9f-85db-592588800848 |
If you're not confused, you're not paying attention.
When the going gets weird, the weird turn pro.
When the going gets weird, the weird turn pro.
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Originally Posted By MitchbSC: When I move back to SC after paying the SC DMV "your car insurance lapsed for 30 microseconds" fine, I am moving to Richland County NE in the Summit. The neighborhood seems to offer gun fights with RCSD. Great way to meet my On Patrol:Live RCSD heroes!! https://www.wistv.com/2026/06/04/1-dead-after-richland-county-shootout-up-10-possible-suspects-involved/ https://www.wltx.com/article/news/local/richland-county-sheriffs-dept-responding-to-a-reported-shooting-in-the-summit-neighborhood/101-818beed2-ee4e-4b9f-85db-592588800848 Before I finished reading your post, I was going to say the Summit might not be the best place at the moment, but it seems you've already heard 
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Originally Posted By cdholmes: Before I finished reading your post, I was going to say the Summit might not be the best place at the moment, but it seems you've already heard Originally Posted By cdholmes: Originally Posted By MitchbSC: When I move back to SC after paying the SC DMV "your car insurance lapsed for 30 microseconds" fine, I am moving to Richland County NE in the Summit. The neighborhood seems to offer gun fights with RCSD. Great way to meet my On Patrol:Live RCSD heroes!! https://www.wistv.com/2026/06/04/1-dead-after-richland-county-shootout-up-10-possible-suspects-involved/ https://www.wltx.com/article/news/local/richland-county-sheriffs-dept-responding-to-a-reported-shooting-in-the-summit-neighborhood/101-818beed2-ee4e-4b9f-85db-592588800848 Before I finished reading your post, I was going to say the Summit might not be the best place at the moment, but it seems you've already heard https://www.wltx.com/article/news/crime/richland-county-deputies-canine-units-searching/101-d982e302-f293-4197-8c85-02be111312d9 Been there. Done it. |
If you're not confused, you're not paying attention.
When the going gets weird, the weird turn pro.
When the going gets weird, the weird turn pro.
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2022. House next door was like 47 rounds. Especially second event of 3. They sold and moved to Florida. Target house was over 70 across three events. Don't care. They caused it. As the shooters spun the cul-de-sac counter clockwise on the second/primary event, target house + 1 caught 3. Mostly the front of her brick porch. Target house + 2 due to the primary event 2 of 3. Cost the guy a major car repair. I had to tell him it was an AK-47 round that cost him the front tire and his battery. Broke my heart. Because my wife could never sleep in our house again. Priceless. Moved to Alabama. |
If you're not confused, you're not paying attention.
When the going gets weird, the weird turn pro.
When the going gets weird, the weird turn pro.
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2022 like 2006 Leon Lott Thanks for being victims and being shot at, we didn't shut shit down because there was "a bigger investigation" we had to let play out. Fun story. Newberry County is rest and rearm for Richland gangs. |
If you're not confused, you're not paying attention.
When the going gets weird, the weird turn pro.
When the going gets weird, the weird turn pro.
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Originally Posted By sandboxmedic: Newberry has definitely changed over the years; the illegals need to go too before it ends up like Saluda. Originally Posted By sandboxmedic: Originally Posted By MitchbSC: Sheriff Lee Foster could do less Mayberry Newberry has definitely changed over the years; the illegals need to go too before it ends up like Saluda. True that. Richland's people who shall not be noticed have established bases to hang out, get high, get product to sell, and get a new AK-47. |
If you're not confused, you're not paying attention.
When the going gets weird, the weird turn pro.
When the going gets weird, the weird turn pro.
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Originally Posted By MitchbSC: Hope the neighbors burn the Shell station. Which is no longer owned by Mr. Chow I just saw there's a protest planned at the State House tomorrow, as well as Black Panther gatherings at the Shell and Chow's (supposed) home address in Pontiac/Elgin area. It doesn't matter how many times people say that Chow hasn't owned that gas station for a few years, people still say he has some sort of connection to it. I know there are states that are worse and I don't know if anywhere would be better, but I think more and more about moving out of the state that I've spent my whole life in. |
| Its funny the group that doesnt want to be judged by their actions. Is calling for a boycott of all asian places period. Yet you still see nail salons and weave shops full. Its also only asians and indians that want to open shop in their areas and they wonder why. |
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Originally Posted By cdholmes: I just saw there's a protest planned at the State House tomorrow, as well as Black Panther gatherings at the Shell and Chow's (supposed) home address in Pontiac/Elgin area. It doesn't matter how many times people say that Chow hasn't owned that gas station for a few years, people still say he has some sort of connection to it. I know there are states that are worse and I don't know if anywhere would be better, but I think more and more about moving out of the state that I've spent my whole life in. It’s going to follow you everywhere because it’s already happening anywhere you could think of going. About the only thing that works I’ve found is going as rural as you can stand. I have a 20 minute drive to the grocery store. I think I could do with a bit longer, but I live where I live. |
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Originally Posted By fulminate: It’s going to follow you everywhere because it’s already happening anywhere you could think of going. About the only thing that works I’ve found is going as rural as you can stand. I have a 20 minute drive to the grocery store. I think I could do with a bit longer, but I live where I live. It's a great plan until the rural area is no longer rural. When I graduated college, my house was rural. Now I'm way to close to all this BS in Richland County. |
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So I just heard Rick Chow's attorney on The Officer Tatum podcast and, it's a messy set of facts for sure, but I do better understand why he was acquitted. For anyone interested here is the link. If you do watch I recommend you make sure to watch the part toward the end just before the 34min mark where he talks about Chow administering CPR. |
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Jeez, the prosecutor needs to be fired and disbarred and that investigator needs to be fired and lose their LEO cert. Several witnesses need to be charged with perjury. I'm not at all surprised though, I figured that being in Richland he was going to be found guilty. The lawyer did an incredible job. I hadn't watched any of the videos from the case but ended watched a couple that were in the sidebar of the Officer Tatum video. That investigator's bias and arrogance is so obvious it's ridiculous. I'm not a lawyer but he seems pretty close to perjuring himself several times, maybe he did.  If I were convicted of a crime and he was the investigator I'd want the case looked at again. The comments under both video show the disconnect from reality, inability to think critically, how the media distorted what actually happened and how people run with it, etc. Defense Corners Rick Chow's Lead Investigator in a Brutal Cross | Pt 13 |
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Originally Posted By MitchbSC: I cannot bring myself to watch that. I was called for Richland County jury duty twice in 28 years. Seems that I have the skill to know what See Dubya P Honestly I didn't want to watch any of it either, the lawyer is full of himself and annoying and of course Swirling was there, but he did an amazing job and it shows how screwed up the system is. |
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See Dubya P(ee) not editing SC wants to play itself as low tax and gun friendly. I ended up with carpal tunnel making the money to pay ~$11,000 a year in Richland County real property tax and car taxes for 2-4 cars and a travel trailer. Fucking Ohio is more gun friendly than SC at this point. Ohio pivoted in the 30 years since I worked in the D.F.O. (Dayton Fucking Ohio) for a company that made "Not Completely Right" cash registers, ATMS (the cash machine, not the kink), and PCs before AT&T went a.t.m. on them. Platt Springs and Wattling Rd in the WeCo, baby. Before Spectrum repainted the water tower by CAE. |
If you're not confused, you're not paying attention.
When the going gets weird, the weird turn pro.
When the going gets weird, the weird turn pro.
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Not a GD baller either. I lived in a less than an acre subdivision Mungo dump behind Mungo HQ in Irmo. No boat. No Italian sports cars. No Russian girlfriend. No land with shorefront on Lake Murray. Basic bitch Richland fucking County with requisite "teen stuff" and firearms street performance arts every other year. |
If you're not confused, you're not paying attention.
When the going gets weird, the weird turn pro.
When the going gets weird, the weird turn pro.
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Originally Posted By MitchbSC: Swirling? Swerling? IIRC. He is a friend to no one unless you're paying him. His name comes up in "gun lawyer" searches but he would not be my go-to. Swerling, I had to look up how to spell it. If you need a scumbag lawyer or one that will take any case you pay him for and who's actually pretty competent, he's got that reputation. Never dealt with him before myself. Can't help you on the Mungo home, everybody in SC should know they're all extremely poorly built, start falling apart quickly and then section 8 moves in and the neighborhood becomes crime ridden. That seems to have become the norm all over the state with more and more cookie cutter developments. Just as an example, I was absolutely blown away last time I went through Pelzer/W Pelzer. It was an essentially dead mill town with crumbling infrastructure and now they have a ton of illegals and horrible little cookie cutter houses that they're charging people moving into the state several hundred thousand for. SC has changed immensely since I was a kid, and definitely not for the better. We have had a huge influx of people wanting to make changes and the number of home grown retards has been steadily increasing. Part of my family has been in the low country since the 1600s and it's barely recognizable from my childhood, especially since my mother's childhood. The house her dad built in Mt (Un)Pleasant was torn down, the house that replaced it was then torn down and the one currently occupying that lot is valued at several million. Most of the historic buildings are there, but it lost that "Southern Charm" years ago as northerners with money moved in and caused a lot of the changes. It used to be when you drove through places like Westminster, Long Creek and Walhalla you could count the people with their eyes too close together or too far apart, stop in a rickety wooden building with creaking wooden floors and get a RC and a Moonpie and if you knew where, a jar of jug of moonshine, but that's all gone too.
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On the mention of the Pelzers.  Crap. I drove to ATL for work for many years. Not every week but many weeks a year since 1999. (Suck deez, Delta Airlines.) The Pelzers was my my shortcut from I-85 to 385. I could see the enshitification build as the 385/418 Fountain Inn interchange grew. |
If you're not confused, you're not paying attention.
When the going gets weird, the weird turn pro.
When the going gets weird, the weird turn pro.
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Originally Posted By MitchbSC: On the mention of the Pelzers. Crap. I drove to ATL for work for many years. Not every week but many weeks a year since 1999. (Suck deez, Delta Airlines.) The Pelzers was my my shortcut from I-85 to 385. I could see the enshitification build as the 385/418 Fountain Inn interchange grew. Pete's of West Pelzer, hangover food when driving to and from Clemson. I forgot to look and see if it was still there a couple of months ago when I was passing through.
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