A celebration broke out Tuesday morning in a local convenience store after Sheldon McDougald of Broadway bought a $20 scratch-off and won a $2 million prize.

“I went up to the clerk and gave her a hug,” he recalled.

McDougald bought his lucky $2,000,000 Riches ticket from the Circle K on Broadway Road in Sanford.

“I was just like, ‘It can’t be,’” he said. “Two million, I couldn’t believe it.”

McDougald said the win still hasn’t sunk in yet but the timing works out well for him.

“It’s always a good time to win some money,” he laughed.

When McDougald arrived at lottery headquarters to collect his prize, he had a decision to make. He could choose to receive the prize as an annuity of $100,000 over 20 years or a lump sum of $1.2 million. He chose the lump sum of $1.2 million and, after required state and federal tax withholdings, took home $864,126.

“It feels good,” he said. “Anybody can win.”

McDougald said he plans to invest his winnings and take care of his family.

The $2,000,000 Riches game debuted in May 2023 with four $2 million top prizes and eight $100,000 prizes. One $2 million prize and two $100,000 prizes remain to be claimed.

Education programs in Lee County received $4.6 million in support from lottery funds last year. For details on how lottery funds have made a difference in all of North Carolina’s 100 counties, visit www.nclottery.com and click on the “Impact” section of the lottery’s website.