Lottery Winner Killed In Home Invasion

FITZGERALD, GA -- A forklift operator who recently won nearly a half-million dollars in the Fantasy 5 lottery game was killed in an apparent home invasion, police say.

Police in Fitzgerald, a south Georgia town about 60 miles east of Albany, say Craigory Burch Jr., 20, died early Thursday morning of gunshot wounds he suffered in his own home, according to WALB-TV.

Burch had won a $434,272 Fantasy 5 jackpot in November.

“I couldn’t believe it at first. I was stunned,” Burch said after cashing in his winning ticket in early December. “I’m still overwhelmed.”

Georgia Bureau of Investigation officers were on the scene overnight. Investigators told WALB that Burch’s girlfriend was at home at the time of the attack.

Friends of Burch said that, during the holidays, he spent part of his winnings buying Christmas gifts for area people in need.

There was no immediate word of suspects on Thursday. Anyone with information in the case is encouraged to call the Ben Hill County Sheriff’s Office at 229-426-5161.

Photo: Georgia Lottery