Story By: Ana Marjanovic, Sub-Editor: Michael Leidig, Agency: Newsflash
A man who went to collect what he thought was a USD-600 lottery prize was stunned when he was told that he had won nearly USD 600,000.
Joshua Locklear, 32, from Pembroke, Robeson County, North Carolina, went to the state lottery’s headquarters on Monday, June 6, to collect what he believed was a USD-600 (GBP-478.66) prize but he was shocked when he was told that it was actually USD 585,949 (GBP 467,446).
Locklear is quoted by the North Carolina Lottery as saying: “When I heard, I was like, ‘There’s no possible way I actually hit the jackpot’.”
He added: “I couldn’t believe it.”
The state lottery explained that Locklear had hit a Fast Play jackpot after purchasing a USD-10 “50X The Cash” ticket at the Pembroke Mini Mart on East Third Street.
The state lottery said that the rolling jackpot gets bigger every time a ticket is purchased and when the lucky winner bought his ticket, it had reached USD 585,949.
But Locklear was unaware of just how big a prize he had won. All he knew was that he had to go and pick up his prize in the city of Raleigh, where the lottery headquarters are located.
The state lottery said: “On Monday morning, he took home USD 416,085 (GBP 331,856) after required state and federal tax withholdings.”
Locklear said: “I really wasn’t expecting that, that’s for sure.”
The lucky winner added: “It really did come at the right time, though.”
The state lottery said: “Locklear said he would like to buy a house and a car with his winnings. He said he’d also like to give back to the community as well.”
