Family sues Howard County after 12 shots killed autistic man
Attorneys filed a federal complaint alleging officers lacked mental health resources during a March crisis response at a Columbia apartment complex.
By Kevin Iyer ·
Attorneys for the family of Alexander LaMorie announced on Thursday that they have filed a federal lawsuit against Howard County and three police officers. The legal action seeks to address the March shooting that killed LaMorie, a 25-year-old man with autism, outside his apartment in Columbia.
The complaint was submitted to a federal district court on behalf of LaMorie’s heirs and his mother, Dr. Jill Harrington. The lawsuit names the county and the three officers who fired the shots that killed LaMorie. It asserts violations of both federal and state laws, including the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Jamie Strawbridge, a partner at Brown, Goldstein & Levy, LLP, made the announcement during a morning press conference. She stated that LaMorie called 911 for help during a crisis but was met with four armed officers who lacked mental health expertise. “In place of providing the adapted emergency services he needed, Howard County sent four armed police officers with deadly weapons and no mental health resources,” Strawbridge said.
County police reported receiving a 911 call from a man threatening self-harm. Officers found LaMorie outside the Patuxent Commons apartment complex, where he had moved just three days prior. Authorities said he carried a knife and walked toward them while refusing to drop the weapon. He sustained 12 gunshot wounds.
The Maryland Attorney General released body camera footage one month after the incident. The video identified the officers as Joel Rodriguez, who had two years of service; Cody Bostic, with six years; and Joseph Riebau, with ten years. None of the three officers faced criminal charges.
Dr. Harrington described the apartment complex as an inclusive community designed for adults with disabilities. She said the family believed the county’s commitment to disability awareness would ensure a safe environment for her son. “His autism is not a crime, and being in crisis is not a crime,” she said.
In May, the county established a Disability Inclusion, Safety, and Crisis Response Task Force. The group, which includes police representatives and social service professionals, reviewed departmental training protocols in July. The Howard County Police Department and county government stated they do not comment on pending litigation.
