Woman claiming to be $1bn Powerball winner seen screaming and running from Skid Row store that sold the ticket
A woman claiming to be the winner of the $1.08 billion Powerball jackpot was spotted at the California convenience store where the ticket was sold.
An unidentified woman who was evidently overcome with emotion was captured on video eagerly hugging people at the unassuming Las Palmitas Mini Market in downtown Los Angeles. Reporters at the store tried to interview the woman, who may hold the third-largest jackpot in Powerball’s history, but she appeared to be too ecstatic to talk.
“I can’t even … I can’t,” she said as she fought tears of joy. “I’m scared right now, I’m so scared.”
As she rushed out of the store, the woman collapsed on her knees.
The winner has secured an estimated $1.08 billion, the sixth largest in US history, while store owners have also won a $1m bonus for selling the lucky ticket. The winning numbers for Wednesday night’s drawing were white balls 7, 10, 11, 13, 24 and red Powerball 24.
The California Lottery announced on Wednesday that only one ticket across the country had matched all the six numbers in the draw. The organisation said that an additional seven tickets matched 5 of the numbers – which means that these ticket holders will also win a prize of $448,750 each.
“The Golden State luck was in full force as California also sold SEVEN additional tickets that matched 5 numbers missing just the Powerball, winning $448,750 each, in Hayward, La Puente, Los Angeles, Northridge, San Francisco, Santa Clara, and South Lake Tahoe,” the lottery said in a tweet.
The jackpot’s winner can choose the total jackpot paid out either in yearly increments or an amount of $558.1m before taxes.
Nabor Herrera, who owns Las Palmitas Mini Market, told KTV-LA that he didn’t realise he’d sold the winning ticket until he arrived for work early Thursday and saw the heavy media presence outside of the store.
“I tell you, it’s a surprise for me, I didn’t know what it is filming or what,” the father-of-four said.
Mr Herrera, who has owned the store for seven years, said he planned to use his $1 million seller bonus to expand his business and take his family on a vacation to Cabo San Lucas or Cancun in Mexico.
The large prize also helped raise a record-breaking $156m for California’s public school system, drawn from ticket sales within the Golden State.
