LaMorie Estate Sues County Over 12-Shot Incident

The estate of Alexander LaMorie has filed a federal lawsuit against Howard County and the three officers who shot him in March. The legal action, announced Thursday, centers on the claim that the department failed to provide appropriate mental health support during a crisis call.

Jamie Strawbridge, the family’s attorney with Brown, Goldstein & Levy, LLP, detailed the complaint at a news conference. He argued that LaMorie, who had autism, called 911 seeking help but was instead met by four armed officers without specialized mental health resources.

"Alexander LaMorie should be alive today," Strawbridge stated. "Alex is dead, because in a moment of crisis he called 911 for help. Rather than provide the modified emergency response services that Alex needed, Howard County sent four police officers armed with deadly weapons and no mental health resources."

The suit, filed in federal district court on behalf of LaMorie and his mother, alleges violations of the Americans with Disabilities Act and state law. It names Howard County and the three officers who fired the shots. The incident occurred at Patuxent Commons, a Columbia apartment complex for adults with disabilities and seniors. LaMorie had moved into the building just three days prior.

County police reported receiving a 911 call from a man threatening self-harm. Officers found LaMorie outside the complex with a knife. Authorities said he was shot 12 times as he walked toward them and refused to drop the weapon. Strawbridge countered that the officers had no plan for a less lethal approach.

"Before they shot and killed Alex, they asked, 'Do you have your Taser? Does anyone have less lethal?' No one did," Strawbridge said. "So those officers resorted to a force-first approach, escalating their encounter with Alex, rather than deescalating it."

Body camera video released by the Maryland Attorney General’s Office a month after the shooting identified the officers as Joel Rodriguez, a two-year veteran; Cody Bostic, a six-year veteran; and Joseph Riebau, a 10-year veteran. None faced criminal charges. The incident prompted County Executive Calvin Ball and former Police Chief Gregory Der to review the county's mental health response protocols. A task force established in May reviewed training and procedures during a July meeting.