‘The zeroes just kept coming’: Rowan County man snags $200K lottery prize

ROWAN COUNTY, N.C. — A quick stop before work paid off for a Rowan County man with a $200,000 lottery win.

“It’s First Tuesday week,” said Roger Burleson. “I always try to buy a couple of the new ones.”

Burleson’s opportunity came Wednesday morning when he had some free time before work. He said he decided to stop by Charlie’s Market on Faith Road in Salisbury and try his luck on the new Emerald Green 8’s ticket.

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Burleson said he bought a few tickets just like normal and walked back to this car. Standing in the parking lot, he started scratching.

“I was about halfway through the ticket,” Burleson said. “I wasn’t thinking anything of it. Then I saw the first zero and thought, ‘Heck yeah, that’s $20.’ Then I saw the third zero, ‘Alright, that’s $200 now!’ When I saw the fourth zero, I started to get excited. The zeroes just kept on coming!”

Burleson claimed his prize Thursday at lottery headquarters in Raleigh. After required state and federal tax withholdings, he took home $141,501.

Burleson said he knows the first thing he will do with the money.

“I’m first going to buy myself a little pickup truck,” he said. “Then I am going to pay off my sister’s car. She just bought it a month ago.”

The $5 ticket launched on Tuesday with four top prizes of $200,000. Burleson is the first player to win a top prize in the game. Three top prizes of $200,000 remain.