A woman claiming she had the winning ticket to California’s $1.08 billion Powerball jackpot showed up at a Los Angeles convenience store that was already being swarmed by the media.
The winning ticket to the third largest jackpot in the game’s 30-year history was sold at Las Palmitas Mini Market and the media was there to talk to the owners, who scored a $1 million retailer bonus. And that is when a woman wearing a black baseball hat emblazoned with the words “Psychedelic Water” arrived.
While rumors are already flying that she is not the winner, the woman broke down in hysterics seemingly overwhelmed by all the fuss.
“I just wanted to talk to the employees,” the sobbing woman told the reporters on hand, as one reporter asked if they could talk to her.
“Honey, I can’t I’m scared,” she cried out as she made her way to the exit, with cameras in pursuit. As she ran away, someone was heard calling out, “Get a bodyguard!”
This woman pulled up to the mini market where the winning Powerball ticket was sold & said she’s the winner pic.twitter.com/G77ZNpiq7V
— Shannonnn sharpes Burner (PARODY Account) (@shannonsharpeee) July 21, 2023
Las Palmitas Mini Market, which is owned by shopkeeper Nabor Herrera, was confirmed as the vendor that sold the lucky ticket.
“When we see the cameras, I was like, ‘Oh my gosh, what’s going on outside?’” co-owner Angelica Menjivar said. “So that’s when we realized it was true.”
If the woman is not the winner, she sure put on a convincing performance acting like she was.
“She came in here and she screamed … She hugged people in the store and then she ran away,” KTLA 5 News reporter Eric Spillman said. “She claims that she has the winning Powerball jackpot ticket.”
It’s not clear why the woman would have gone to the store, though social media users noted that winners often do not know where to go to claim their money.
Here’s a quick sampling of reactions to the story as seen on Twitter:
There is a rumor flying after it was aired that she is not the winner
— Juan Romero (@Romero112078) July 21, 2023
They really said “what’s ur name?”
— Mountaineer (@stonk_the) July 21, 2023
Do you have to say anything? Can you wait till after you get to the lottery office? I wouldn’t want to the news media to know until I got an attorney and accountant
— c roses (@croses7) July 21, 2023
Some people don’t know you go to the lottery office to collect jackpots and they think they need to bring the ticket into where they bought it and they get screwed over by a clerk or get jumped. Some people go to collect at lottery offices in paper bags over their heads and masks…
— Joey Piceno (@joeyiscozy) July 21, 2023
The IRS pic.twitter.com/1tR2rRuLxW
— Roronoa Zoro (@CrypticZoro) July 21, 2023
- Trump: Maduro will take back Tren de Aragua gang members AND even supply transportation - February 1, 2025
- FBI Academy photo perfectly captures Trump’s war on DEI - February 1, 2025
- Mel Gibson speculates on whether there’s a ‘purpose’ behind devastating LA fires - January 11, 2025
Comment
We have no tolerance for comments containing violence, racism, profanity, vulgarity, doxing, or discourteous behavior. If a comment is spam, instead of replying to it please click the ∨ icon below and to the right of that comment. Thank you for partnering with us to maintain fruitful conversation.