Federal Suit: Family sues Howard County over fatal shooting of autistic man

Lawyers for the family of Alexander LaMorie filed a federal lawsuit on Thursday morning against Howard County and the officers involved in his death last March. The suit seeks to hold the county and its police department accountable for the fatal shooting of the 25-year-old man.

Jamie Strawbridge, an attorney with Brown, Goldstein & Levy LLP, announced the filing at a press conference. The complaint alleges violations of federal statutes, including the Americans with Disabilities Act, as well as state laws. The family argues that the county failed to provide appropriate emergency services for a man in a mental health crisis.

The legal action was filed in federal district court on behalf of LaMorie’s heirs and his mother, Dr. Jill Harrington. The named defendants are the County of Howard and the three officers who fired weapons at LaMorie. County police and the county government told CBS News Baltimore that they do not comment on pending litigation.

The incident occurred outside LaMorie’s apartment building at the Patuxent Commons complex in Columbia. Authorities stated that officers responded to a 911 call about a man threatening to harm himself. Police found LaMorie outside the complex holding a knife. He walked toward the officers and refused to drop the weapon. Officers fired 12 shots in total.

Strawbridge said LaMorie had moved into the Patuxent Commons development just three days before the shooting. The complex is part of a multi-million dollar project intended to provide safe housing for adults with disabilities and older residents. The family viewed the move as a way for LaMorie to maintain his independence while gaining community support.

Dr. Harrington said the family chose the inclusive center for its promise of connection and belonging. She stated that the county’s declared commitment to disability awareness and crisis response training led them to believe the community was prepared to handle such situations. She described the outcome as a nightmare, noting that officers arrived with lethal weapons but without mental health resources.

The Maryland Attorney General released body camera footage one month after the shooting. The video identified the three officers as Joel Rodriguez, Cody Bostic, and Joseph Riebau. None of the officers faced criminal charges. Strawbridge claimed that officers asked if anyone had a Taser before deciding to use lethal force.

In May, Howard County Executive Calvin Ball and former Police Chief Gregory Der established a working group on inclusion and crisis response for people with disabilities. The group includes police representatives, nonprofit organizations, and social services professionals. In July, the group reviewed current police training and protocols for handling these types of incidents.