Family Of Autistic Man Shot By Cops Feels Traumatized

HOWARD COUNTY, MD — The family of Alex LaMorie, the autistic man fatally shot by Howard County police officers March 1, said an unexpected Thursday afternoon news conference held by county leaders triggered "unnecessary additional traumatic stress."

In a statement sent to Patch, the family said they were spending Thursday paying respect to LaMorie's remains. They were given 15 to 20 minutes' notice of the news conference happening. During that news conference, HCPD Police Chief Gregory Der said LaMorie had called 911 after saying he was going to harm himself. LaMorie said he'd fallen victim to an extortion scam.

"It was very difficult for our family, who is profoundly and traumatically grieving, to be provided only 15-20 minutes notification of a planned after-action briefing today, on a day we reserved to pay private and quiet respect to our son’s remains. Providing adequate advance notice would have allowed us time to prepare for the complex grief that accompanies sudden, violent bereavement instead of triggering unnecessary additional traumatic stress — which now includes taking time and expending the little energy we have to respond to the news conference, instead of spending the time we had set aside to quietly be with our son," the family said in their statement.

Related: Extortion Scam Led Autistic Man To Call Howard Co. Police For Help

The family said the "lack of a trauma-informed response" added "another layer of pain" to what they are already experiencing. Furthermore, LaMorie's family said it shows a "greater systematic lack of compassionate, trauma-informed crisis response to mental health distress in Columbia.

"The county’s response to us during and in the aftermath of this personal and community tragedy stands in contrast to Columbia’s reputation as a mental-health-focused community. The city consistently earns high marks in national rankings for safety, well-being and overall quality of life and was ranked No. 5 in the nation for emotional and physical well-being in 2024," the family said.

Officers responded to a report of a man threatening to harm himself March 1. Three police officers — all of whom have been trained in working with individuals with disabilities, leaders said — arrived at Patuxent Commons shortly after midnight March 1 in response to LaMorie's call to dispatchers.

According to the police department, LaMorie, 25, approached the police officers while holding a knife. Officers told LaMorie to drop the knife, but he did not comply. He continued walking toward officers while holding the knife and officers opened fire.

"As a family, we have loved the area — food, music, the mall — it is rich in diversity, culture, the arts. Strong grief-informed and trauma-informed leadership can play an important role in helping communities recover and remain resilient after tragedies such as violence, disasters or sudden loss. When leaders understand grief and trauma, they can help diminish the emotional and social impacts of tragedies, guide communities toward healing, and strengthen overall safety and security," the family stated.

Related: Autistic Man Shot By Police Described As 'Bright Light' By Family

Jill Harrington, LaMorie’s mother, said the night of the fatal shooting, she remained in her vehicle with her stepson while her husband, LaMorie's stepfather, spoke with officers. The only information they were given was that his case was being turned over to the Maryland Attorney General's Office, Harrington said.

LaMorie was pronounced dead at the scene despite police and emergency responders administering lifesaving measures, authorities said.

"We were left guessing the cause and manner of his death — to say it is distressing and the nightmares I had is an understatement. In the two hours that the police were aware I was sitting in the car, we were never offered any crisis support, resources or victim’s services. Since the shooting, no one has proactively reached out. To me, the irony of this is deeply painful, given that I was the keynote luncheon speaker for the Governor’s Victim Assistance Awards Luncheon for the Maryland State Board of Victims Services meeting in 2012, due to my work and research in traumatic bereavement. … The silence has been deafening," Harrington said.

Reflecting upon the news conference, Harrington said she and other family members hope county leaders and law enforcement "hold true to turn Alex’s pain and the community’s collective pain into purpose."

"Our hope is for meaningful and effective change to police and mental-health partnership in response to all those in suicidal crisis, to better understand effective and alternative interactions with the neurodivergent, at-risk and all vulnerable and marginalized communities," Harrington said.

"With the rising rates of teen and young adult suicide, I hope that the responses stated today improve against what the National Alliance of Mental Illness (NAMI) warns – the use of force often becomes lethal when police become involved with someone in a mental health crisis because officers misinterpret symptoms and a person’s symptoms can interfere with their ability to respond to commands," Harrington said.

LaMorie's family said they welcome the impartial investigation from the state attorney general's office's IID.

"The way Alex died has earned the fear and seismic distrust from many communities, especially the disability community," Harrington added.

Related: Man Shot By Police Identified, May Have Been Autistic