12 shots: Family sues Howard County over fatal autism-related arrest

Federal court filings now place Howard County and three police officers in a civil dispute over the March 2026 death of Alexander LaMorie. The 25-year-old man, who had autism, was killed during a police response to a call at an apartment complex in Columbia.

The incident began when a 911 call reported a man threatening to harm himself. Police dispatched four armed officers to Patuxent Commons, a multimillion-dollar housing project for adults with disabilities and senior citizens. LaMorie had moved into the complex just three days before the shooting.

According to the police account, officers found LaMorie outside the building carrying a knife. As he walked toward them and refused to drop the weapon, three officers fired 12 shots. The officers were identified as Joel Rodriguez, a two-year veteran; Cody Bostic, a six-year veteran; and Joseph Riebau, a 10-year veteran. No criminal charges were filed against any of the three.

Jamie Strawbridge, an attorney for LaMorie’s estate and his mother, announced the lawsuit at a news conference on Thursday. He stated that LaMorie called 911 for help in a moment of crisis. Instead of receiving specialized assistance, LaMorie faced officers equipped with deadly weapons but without mental health resources or less lethal options.

Strawbridge noted that officers asked on scene if anyone had a Taser. No one did. He argued the team used a force-first approach rather than de-escalating the encounter. The lawsuit alleges violations of the Americans with Disabilities Act and state law.

Following the shooting, the Maryland Attorney General’s Office released body camera video in April. The release prompted Howard County Executive Calvin Ball and then-Police Chief Gregory Der to review the county’s crisis response protocols. In May, the county established a task force that includes police, social service professionals, and nonprofit representatives. The group reviewed existing training and protocols in July.

The family’s legal team argues the officers were unprepared for a mental health crisis. The lawsuit seeks to address the lack of specialized resources during the response.