Just weeks after America was gripped by lottery fever thanks to a record $1.6 billion Powerball jackpot, the winner of a Georgia state lottery was shot death in a shockingly brutal home invasion blamed on his windfall!
Police said 20-year-old Craigory Burch Jr., a forklift operator, died from gunshot wounds at his home in Fitzgerald, Ga., Thursday night.
Family and friends believe Craigory was targeted because he won $434,272 playing the Fantasy 5 lottery in November.
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Authorities said Craigory’s girlfriend, Jasmine Hendricks, was at his home when a shotgun blast blew open a door and three masked men entered and pointed weapons.
“When they came in, (Craigory) said, ‘Don’t do it, bro. Don’t do it in front of my kids. Please, don’t do it in front of my kids and old lady. Please don’t do that, bro. Please don’t,’” Jasmine recalled. “He said, ‘I’ll give you my bank card.’”
Craigory then tossed the intruders his pants. When they could not find his wallet, they shot him and fled!
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Jasmine is certain the suspects were after the lottery money Craigory had just won.
“Ever since he hit the lottery we kept getting calls, text messages, all that, saying, ‘Be careful because people are out for him to rob him,’” she said.
Friends said Craigory used some of his winnings to buy Christmas presents for people in need.
Authorities have not named any suspects.
