Wardell Lazard

Coroner Finds High Drug, Alcohol Level in Lazard's Body: The chairman and chief executive of W.R. Lazard & Co., Wall Street's biggest black-owned money management firm, appears to have been drunk and high on cocaine when he died, a coroner said. Wardell Lazard's blood alcohol level measured more than 0.25%, and toxicology tests indicated a white substance found near his body was 83% or more cocaine.

Coroner Finds High Drug, Alcohol Level in Lazard's Body: The chairman and chief executive of W.R. Lazard & Co., Wall Street's biggest black-owned money management firm, appears to have been drunk and high on cocaine when he died, a coroner said. Wardell Lazard's blood alcohol level measured more than 0.25%, and toxicology tests indicated a white substance found near his body was 83% or more cocaine.

One of the few minority-owned firms to crack the precincts of Wall Street was reeling Thursday following the death of its founder and chairman, Wardell Lazard. Lazard, chairman of the investment bank W.R. Lazard & Co., was found dead Wednesday afternoon in a Pittsburgh hotel room, his naked body face-down on the bed, Pittsburgh police Sgt. Mark Ninehouser said. At his side was a tray containing a "white, powdery substance," and an empty vodka bottle was at the foot of the bed, Ninehouser said.

One of the few minority-owned firms to crack the precincts of Wall Street was reeling Thursday following the death of its founder and chairman, Wardell Lazard. Lazard, chairman of the investment bank W.R. Lazard & Co., was found dead Wednesday afternoon in a Pittsburgh hotel room, his naked body face-down on the bed, Pittsburgh police Sgt. Mark Ninehouser said. At his side was a tray containing a "white, powdery substance," and an empty vodka bottle was at the foot of the bed, Ninehouser said.