Chicago lottery winner died from cyanide poisoning

photo Urooj Khan, 46, of Chicago's West Rogers Park, shows his winning lottery ticket.

CHICAGO - A Chicago man who died of cyanide poisoning just as he was about to collect $425,000 in lottery winnings had promised himself he wouldn't gamble anymore.

Ashur Oshana, a clerk at a 7-Eleven on Chicago's North Side, sold Urooj (oo-ROOJ') Khan two scratch-off tickets in June.

Oshana said Khan had been on hajj, a Muslim pilgrimage. Oshana said when Khan returned, he said he wanted to lead a better life and not gamble. But Khan bought the tickets anyway.

Oshana says Khan grabbed his hand and kissed it when he saw he won a $1 million prize.

Khan died in July. His death was recently ruled a homicide after a relative asked for an expanded investigation.

Oshana said he was shocked to hear that someone may have killed Khan.

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