The autopsy report from the Yavapai County Office of the Medical Examiner found 19-year-old Justin Lake had a blood alcohol content of 0.03 at the time of his death, well below the legal limit.
By Greg Nix
Larson Newspapers
The autopsy report from the Yavapai County Office of the Medical Examiner found 19-year-old Justin Lake had a blood alcohol content of 0.03 percent at the time of his death, well below the legal limit.
Lake led local law enforcement on a high speed pursuit April 27, which began on the outskirts of Sedona and ended with his death between Cottonwood and Camp Verde.
Officers with the Sedona Police Department ended their pursuit at the city limits and requested outside agencies intercept him. Lake was reported to be travelling in excess of 100 mph at times.
The Arizona Department of Public Safey Highway Patrol began their pursuit of Lake on Hwy. 89A between Sedona and Cottonwood and followed him through Cottonwood when they requested Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office to deploy a stop strip on Hwy. 260.
A stop strip has small sharp metal points designed to puncture and deflate the tires of a vehicle to bring the vehicle to a halt.
YCSO deputies deployed a stop strip near Horsehead Road near mile post 217 where Lake pulled off to the side of the road a few feet later.
DPS and YCSO press releases stated Lake exited his vehicle with a gun drawn and immediately opened fire causing the YCSO deputies to return fire, killing him a short while later.
The autopsy report states that Lake was shot at 8:51 p.m. and pronounced dead on the scene at 9:47 p.m. Attempts were made by emergency medical personnel to restart his heart through electrical heart stimulation and oxygen were not successful.
The autopsy report also identified small abrasions on Lake’s back, which are consistent with Tasers, and the report said YCSO deputies also pepper-sprayed Lake at that time.
Lake was shot twice, once in the chest and once in the gut and died of massive bleeding from a punctured lung, perforated liver and kidney.
