SCIOTO COUNTY, Ohio — Christopher Lorenzo Peake, a 41-year-old Cincinnati resident, received a sentence exceeding 50 years after being found guilty of a series of violent crimes, including attempted murder, aggravated robbery, and carjacking, followed by a dangerous high-speed pursuit. The verdict and sentencing concluded a three-day trial in Scioto County on November 7, 2024.
Peake’s crime spree began on January 5, 2024, when he and another individual attempted to break into a home on Houston Hollow Road. The resident confronted them, causing Peake and his accomplice to flee on foot toward the Scioto County Career Technical Center. Shortly afterward, Peake approached a man waiting in his truck near the school, pointed a gun at him, and eventually fired through the truck’s window, forcing the victim out before taking the vehicle.
School resource officer Deputy Logan Shuff heard the gunshot and saw the stolen truck speeding away. This initiated a high-speed chase as Peake led officers through multiple school zones and residential areas, often reaching speeds over 120 mph and, at times, driving on the wrong side of the road. Despite law enforcement’s attempts to halt him with stop sticks, Peake swerved around them, briefly crashed into a ditch, and continued to evade officers. He ultimately lost control of the vehicle after crashing into a guardrail.
When officers tried to arrest him, Peake threatened them, reaching for his waistband and refusing commands, but deputies managed to take him into custody without lethal force. Peake later claimed various injuries and told officers he had ingested drugs, leading to a medical examination.
Peake faced a total of 22 felony charges, with the jury convicting him on 20 counts, including attempted aggravated murder, kidnapping, and felonious assault. The judge, who cited Peake’s history as a “repeat violent offender,” sentenced him to between 50 ½ and 56 years in prison.
Scioto County Prosecutor Shane Tieman emphasized the severity of Peake’s actions, saying, “His crime spree endangered the lives of law enforcement, innocent bystanders, and schoolchildren. It’s truly remarkable that no one was seriously hurt or killed that day.”
This case highlights the extreme risks law enforcement officers face and the justice system’s commitment to holding violent offenders accountable.