Craigory Burch Jr. thought all his dreams had come true after learning that his lottery ticket matched all five numbers in the Fantasy 5 jackpot. Winning the Georgia lottery meant that the 20-year-old forklift operator won close to a half-million dollars, or $434,272 before taxes. One of the first things he did with his winnings was buy Christmas gifts for families who couldn’t afford them.
Early Thursday morning, Burch was killed during a robbery at his home.
“When they came in, he 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.’ He said, ‘I’ll give you my bank card,’” Burch’s girlfriend, Jasmine Hendricks, who was home during the robbery, told WALB.
Hendricks said that a shotgun blast burst through their front door and three masked robbers entered their home. She told the news station that she ran for help. Burch reportedly threw his pants toward the robbers so they could take his wallet, and when they couldn’t find it, they shot and killed Burch and ran from the house.
Burch’s mother relayed an emotional message to those responsible for the killing.
“I want them to know what they took from me,” Leslie Collins told WALB. “They took a part of my life away from me. My child that I carried and raised for 20 years.”
Georgia police officials worked overnight collecting evidence. The news station notes that they haven’t named any persons of interest in the case. Police are asking that anyone with information regarding the incident contact Ben Hill County Sheriff’s Office at 229-426-5161.
Read more at WALB.