Autism Advocacy: Family Sues Howard County Over Fatal Shooting

The family of Alex LaMorie filed a federal lawsuit on Thursday against Howard County and the three officers who fatally shot him in March. The legal action seeks accountability for the death of the 25-year-old autistic man, who was killed while holding a kitchen knife during a mental health crisis.

The suit, filed in U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland, asserts that the officers violated the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Rehabilitation Act. It also charges the county and the responding officers with wrongful death, negligence, and gross negligence.

Jill Harrington, LaMorie’s mother and a plaintiff in the case, stated that the shooting left the family with enduring trauma and grief. She described the lawsuit as a quest for accountability and a method to drive meaningful change in how the system responds to individuals with disabilities.

Jamie Strawbridge, a partner at the Baltimore law firm Brown, Goldstein & Levy, called the killing a preventable tragedy caused by the county’s breach of federal disability law. The legal team aims to ensure that people in disability-related crises receive help rather than a lethal response.

On March 1, LaMorie called 911 to report an extortion scam before police arrived at Patuxent Commons in Columbia. The complex is newly dedicated to supporting adults with autism and other disabilities. Body camera footage released in late March shows LaMorie barefoot and holding a knife as four officers drew their weapons shortly after midnight.

Officers instructed LaMorie to drop the knife, but he walked toward them while stating he could not. One officer shouted, “Please don’t make me do this,” while another noted they were getting cornered. The officers opened fire, and LaMorie fell to the ground.

Maryland Attorney General Anthony Brown declined to file criminal charges against the three officers in July. Police reported that they attempted lifesaving measures on the scene, but LaMorie was declared dead shortly after. The family is represented by Brown, Goldstein & Levy and Tornatore & Zafiropulos.