Son thought dad was ‘having a heart attack’ after NC lottery win. He was celebrating
Johnny Zinnerman picked up a $5 20X The Cash scratch-off ticket recently and didn’t even make it inside his house before he started scratching.
When the 58-year-old saw his $250,000 prize, he immediately started celebrating, according to an April 21 news release from the North Carolina Education Lottery.
“I jumped up and threw my hands in the air,” Zinnerman told officials.
That’s when Zinnerman’s son pulled up in his car.
“He said he thought I was having a heart attack or something,” Zinnerman said.
The father and grandfather said he couldn’t believe his prize, according to officials.
“I kept looking at it the rest of the afternoon to make sure it was real,” Zinnerman told officials. “I’m just grateful and thankful.”
After taxes, Zinnerman took home $178, 126, which he said he plans to use for paying some bills, doing some home repairs and helping with his 14 grandchildren.
Officials said Zinnerman bought his ticket at the Hoffman Mini Mart on U.S. 1 in Hoffman — about 80 miles southwest of Raleigh.
This story was originally published April 23, 2023 at 12:58 PM with the headline "Son thought dad was ‘having a heart attack’ after NC lottery win. He was celebrating."
