LaMorie Estate Sues Howard County Over 12-Bullet Autistic Man's Death

A federal lawsuit filed Thursday challenges the circumstances surrounding the death of Alexander LaMorie, a 25-year-old man with autism who was shot by Howard County police last March. Attorney Jamie Strawbridge of Brown, Goldstein & Levy, LLP, spoke at a news conference to detail the legal action against the county and three specific officers. Strawbridge argued that the department prioritized force over the specialized support LaMorie required during a crisis.

The suit was lodged in federal district court on behalf of LaMorie's estate and his mother. It names Howard County and the three officers who fired their weapons. The legal document alleges violations of the Americans with Disabilities Act and applicable state laws. Strawbridge noted that LaMorie had moved into the Patuxent Commons apartment complex in Columbia just three days before the incident. The development is part of a multimillion-dollar project intended to provide affordable housing for adults with disabilities and senior citizens.

Police records state that officers responded to a 911 call reporting a man threatening self-harm. When they met LaMorie outside the complex, he was holding a knife. Authorities said he walked toward them and refused to drop the weapon. He was shot 12 times. Strawbridge claimed the officers arrived without a plan, specialized mental health resources, or less lethal options such as Tasers. He recalled that officers asked if anyone had a Taser before the shooting, and no one did.

The Maryland Attorney General's Office released body camera footage one month after the shooting. The video identified the officers as Joel Rodriguez, a two-year veteran; Cody Bostic, a six-year veteran; and Joseph Riebau, a 10-year veteran. None of the three faced criminal charges for the death.

The incident has driven local officials to review their handling of mental health emergencies. Howard County Executive Calvin Ball and former Police Chief Gregory Der launched an investigation into the county's response protocols. This May, the county established a task force to address these issues. The group includes representatives from the police department, county agencies, nonprofits, and social service professionals.

In July, the task force met to review existing police training and protocols for responding to mental health crises. The lawsuit seeks to hold the department accountable for the lack of preparation during LaMorie's final encounter with law enforcement.