FITZGERALD, Ga. — Police have charged seven people in the January shooting death of a recent Georgia Lottery winner.
Craigory Burch Jr., 20, died just two months after winning $434,272 when he hit the Fantasy 5 jackpot in November.
Investigators believe three masked people broke into a home under the cover of late-night darkness on Jan. 20. Authorities believe they aimed to rob Burch of his lottery winnings, WALB reported.
The suspects were identified as Rosalyn Swain, 22; Keyona Dyous, 24; Earnest Holcomb, 27; Wayan Jordan, 17; Dabrentis Overstreen, 19; Nathaniel Baker, 28; and Anjavell Johnson, 21, according to WFXL. Ben Hill County Sheriff Bobby McLemore told the news station more arrests were expected but the attack appeared to be targeted and not random.
All seven suspects were charged with malice murder, armed robbery, aggravated assault and possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime, WALB reported.
Burch's friends said he worked as a forklift operator and used some of his lottery winnings to buy Christmas presents for those in need. His girlfriend, Jasmine Hendricks, told WALB he pleaded with his attackers before they fatally shot him.
"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,'" Hendricks said.
Six of the suspects were being held in Ben Hill County Jail Monday. The remaining suspect was in custody in Colquitt County, according to WALB.
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