For lucky locksmith, 3rd ticket is key to $500K lottery win

Lottery winner Marcus Wilhite (left) claims his $500K prize from Georgia Lottery sales representative Isaac Robinson.

Lottery winner Marcus Wilhite (left) claims his $500K prize from Georgia Lottery sales representative Isaac Robinson.

A Rockdale County locksmith has opened the door on a $500,000 windfall from the Georgia Lottery.

The lucky locksmith, Marcus Wilhite, of Conyers won the prize in “The Big $5 Ticket” scratch-off game along with two other prizes on the June 30.

“Never in a million years did I think I’d hit that much money,” said Wilhite.

He bought three, $5 tickets. The first scored $3, the second $40 and the third hit the jackpot — half a million dollars.

“My dad was looking over my shoulder. He told me I’d won $500,000,” said Wilhite, who bought the tickets at the Conyers Food Mart on Highway 20 Northeast.

The 22-year-old says he will buy a new truck and go to Jamaica for a week. After that, he plans to save the rest of his winnings, which he claimed from the Georgia Lottery on July 1.