Man Shot By Police Identified, May Have Been Autistic

COLUMBIA, MD — Officials have identified the man armed with a knife who was fatally shot in a standoff with Howard County Police, as well as the officers involved in the March 1 incident.

Reports indicate the man killed may have been on the autism spectrum.

Around 12:09 a.m. Sunday, police were called to an apartment complex on Freetown Road for a report of a man threatening to harm himself.

In dispatch audio shared by CBS News Baltimore, a first responder could be heard saying, "We were speaking with a caller on the phone. He began making suicidal statements."

But police could not find the man heard on the 911 call when they arrived at the apartment complex.

"Can we get another couple units over here to start making checks for this guy?" police can be heard asking on dispatch audio. "He's not in his apartment."

As the officers left the apartment building, they said they saw the man — later identified as 25-year-old Alexander LaMorie of Columbia — in the parking lot walking toward them with a knife in one hand around 12:22 a.m.

LaMorie approached the officers holding a knife and, according to police, disregarded their command to drop the knife. Officers then shot LaMorie, who was pronounced dead at the scene after they attempted life-saving measures.

A knife was found by his body, according to a news release from the Independent Investigations Division of the Maryland Office of the Attorney General.

The involved officers have been identified as HCPD Officer Joel Rodriguez, a two-year veteran; Officer Cody Bostic, a six-year veteran; and PFC Joseph Riebau, a 10-year veteran.

WJZ reports indicated that LaMorie was found outside Patuxent Commons, a new apartment complex on Freetown Road in Hickory Ridge — a $44 million public private partnership led by the Autism Society of Maryland. One quarter of the units are set aside for people with disabilities and 40 percent as affordable housing for seniors.

Autism Society of Maryland and Mission First Housing released this statement about the shooting:

"Early Sunday morning, a resident of Patuxent Commons was shot and killed outside of the property following a wellness check by the Howard County Police Department. The Autism Society of Maryland (AUSOM) and Mission First Housing Group (Mission First) deeply mourn this loss. This is a disturbingly tragic event, and we have been in touch with the family to express our deepest sorrow and offer support...

Our immediate focus is on supporting residents and staff who are experiencing shock, grief, and trauma. Staff members are on site at this time and additional staff and grief counselors will be in the community ... to respond to resident concerns and offer support. Patuxent Commons exists to provide safe, affordable, inclusive housing rooted in community for adults with disabilities, older adults and families. That mission has not changed. We are committed to fully understanding the chain of events that led to this tragedy and learning everything we can once the investigation is complete.

Patuxent Commons exists to provide safe, affordable, inclusive housing rooted in community for adults with disabilities, older adults and families. That mission has not changed. We are committed to fully understanding the chain of events that led to this tragedy and learning everything we can once the investigation is complete."

The officers on scene were equipped with body-worn cameras, which recorded the incident. The IID, which continues to investigate the shooting, will generally release body-worn camera footage within 20 business days of an incident.  

Anyone with information about this incident, including cell phone or private surveillance video, is asked to contact the IID at (410) 576-7070 or by email at IID@oag.maryland.gov.