Recent lottery winner targeted, killed over winnings during Georgia home invasion

[lostinblue 1,989]

Recent lottery winner targeted, killed over winnings during Georgia home invasion

FITZGERALD, Ga. -- A forklift operator who won over $430,000 playing the Georgia lottery was shot and killed during a home invasion, according to police.

Friends and family say Craigory Burch, Jr., 30, was targeted because he won $434,272 in November.

The victim's girlfriend says a shotgun blew open their door and three masked, armed men ran inside their home.

"When they came in, he said, 'Don't do it bro. Don't do it in front of my kids.' He said, 'Please don't do it in front of my kids and my old lady. Please don't do that bro. Please don't.' He said, 'I'll give you my bank card,'" Jasmine Hendricks told WALB.

Hendricks said she is certain the suspects were after some of the money he 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,'" Hendricks said.

Hendricks said during the home invasion, Burch threw his pants at the suspects. After realizing Burch's wallet was not in the pants, the suspects shot and killed him seconds before fleeing the home.

The victim's mother wants justice for those responsible in the killing.

"I want them to know what they took from me. They took a part of my life away from me. My child that I carried and raised for 20 years," Leslie Collins said.

Authorities have not named any suspects in the case.

Burch's friends say he used some of the money he won to buy Christmas presents for those in need.

http://fox61.com/2016/01/22/recent-lottery-winner-killed-during-ga-home-invasion/

One of the first things he should have bought was a gun

[ExPatty 502]

Terrible news.

I don't want to use this as too much of a platform, but I truly believe the lottery should be banned nationwide. Even among those who win it things so often go sour.

[Merrytooth 5,748]

He should have taken the lottery money and moved far far away to start a new life.

[Transborderwife 4,666]

He should have taken the lottery money and moved far far away to start a new life.

I agree. This is partially why I always say that if I won I'd move away after claiming it anonymously

[The Nature Boy 7,659]

His dad actually won, but he claimed the money cause dad owed the IT'S major money.

[ready4ONE 5,400]

How do we know that the victim wasn't a gun owner? Do gun owners regularly sit facing their doorway with gun off safety and pointed at the door just in case someone shoots the door open? From the OP that sounds like the only way a gun might have saved this poor guy.

[Dashinka 24,598]

I agree. This is partially why I always say that if I won I'd move away after claiming it anonymously

I had thought a little bit about this when the PB hit the big number recently. It was interesting in that the research I did, many states require that the winner is identified. If I ever won (not likely since I rarely ever buy a ticket), I would sit with an attorney and find out how I could get around the identification rules. Other than that, I would move away as soon as I could.

[Transborderwife 4,666]

I had thought a little bit about this when the PB hit the big number recently. It was interesting in that the research I did, many states require that the winner is identified. If I ever won (not likely since I rarely ever buy a ticket), I would sit with an attorney and find out how I could get around the identification rules. Other than that, I would move away as soon as I could.

Shame as I know in Canada it's not required

[TBoneTX 45,539]

many states require that the winner is identified

This is a problem and THE problem. The states or their lottery commissions are so hungry for publicity that they'll sacrifice their winners to the greedy or the criminal. Winners should have the absolute right to remain anonymous, with no "you waive your rights to privacy as a consequence of claiming your winnings."

Moving away might not be enough. Winners might have to arrange for no forwarding address, and complete changes of their telephone numbers and e-mail addresses, in addition to moving (far away).

Edited January 24, 2016 by TBoneTX

[Dashinka 24,598]

This is a problem and THE problem. The states or their lottery commissions are so hungry for publicity that they'll sacrifice their winners to the greedy or the criminal. Winners should have the absolute right to remain anonymous, with no "you waive your rights to privacy as a consequence of claiming your winnings."

Moving away might not be enough. Winners might have to arrange for no forwarding address, and complete changes of their telephone numbers and e-mail addresses, in addition to moving (far away).

I agree. I wonder if someone could sue the state/lottery commission to withhold their identity or provide protection. I doubt this would work, but it was an interesting thought, I definitely wouldn't come out myself in public and declare myself a winner. When the PB was won, I remember the couple from Tenn being in the news, but I don't think I ever saw anything regarding the other two winners. I would say they were much smarter than the Tenn couple.

[X Factor 1,112]

A good portion of lottery winners end up worse than they were down the road

[ExPatty 502]

A good portion of lottery winners end up worse than they were down the road

It is a scourge on society. Not only do the majority of big-lotto winners end up losing their money inside of a decade, but the lotto disproportionately attracts those who can least pay for it: the poor. A lot of people play the lotto and don't spend much on it but a small but meaningful percentage of people spend all of their disposable income on it, leading to personal tragedy. It's really a bad thing for society and particularly injurious on the poor, who are already less capable at winning in life than the rest of us and the lotto is one extra thing they need to work through/avoid being entangled by.

[Ban Hammer 13,407]

the lotto disproportionately attracts those who can least pay for it: the poor.

sounds just like the democratic party........

Edited January 24, 2016 by charles!

[X Factor 1,112]

It is a scourge on society. Not only do the majority of big-lotto winners end up losing their money inside of a decade, but the lotto disproportionately attracts those who can least pay for it: the poor. A lot of people play the lotto and don't spend much on it but a small but meaningful percentage of people spend all of their disposable income on it, leading to personal tragedy. It's really a bad thing for society and particularly injurious on the poor, who are already less capable at winning in life than the rest of us and the lotto is one extra thing they need to work through/avoid being entangled by.

I couldn't have said it better.

[Dashinka 24,598]

It is a scourge on society. Not only do the majority of big-lotto winners end up losing their money inside of a decade, but the lotto disproportionately attracts those who can least pay for it: the poor. A lot of people play the lotto and don't spend much on it but a small but meaningful percentage of people spend all of their disposable income on it, leading to personal tragedy. It's really a bad thing for society and particularly injurious on the poor, who are already less capable at winning in life than the rest of us and the lotto is one extra thing they need to work through/avoid being entangled by.

Sounds a lot like a tax with little or no return (I.e. Social security).

Edited January 24, 2016 by Bill & Katya