Fatal police shooting of man with autism prompts new calls for action

Advocates want action after a man with autism who was experiencing a mental health crisis was shot and killed by police in Maryland last month.

Disturbing video from March 1 shows Alex Lamorie, who had autism, experiencing a mental health crisis.

Lamorie had called 911 believing he was the victim of an extortion scam and threatening to harm himself.

The housing development Howard County police responded to provides independent, inclusive living for people with disabilities, including autism.

Officers looked for him inside the building, Patuxent Commons in Columbia, for several minutes, but he wasn’t there. They found him outside.

Video shows him approaching officers with knife in hand.

“It’s really not this bad,” an officer said. “Listen, I’ve had this call a dozen times.”

“I don’t care, man,” Lamorie replied. “I don’t care. I don’t want to live anymore. I want to be free of my pain, man.”

Police ordered him to drop the knife, but the confrontation ended with three officers opening fire, killing Lamorie.

“He called for help,” said Andrew Stettner, a board member with the Autism Society. “He should have left that night alive and getting assistance. And so, that’s the tragedy in this event. And that’s what we have to work hard and do better so this never happens again.”

Autism Society sponsored Patuxent Commons.

“I think this incident, the killing of Alex Lamorie, really fractured the trust that we had built,” Stettner said.

Autism Society and other groups have worked for years with law enforcement and governments to train and educate on how to properly interact with the disabled community.

“It has made members of our community questioning will they be safe if themselves or a member of their family has a mental health emergency and has to call for help,” Stettner said.

Autism Society and other organizations released a joint statement this week on crisis response, disability and community safety, underscoring the risk when disabled people, mental health and law enforcement intersect. The statement says police training alone will not prevent tragedies and calls for a more coordinated response to address the issue.

The organizations seek expanded use of the 988 suicide and crisis lifeline, more mobile crisis teams and investment in non-law enforcement and non-lethal responses. They also want those trained in crisis response to be available and better coordination to prevent future tragedies.

“We can train our police, of course, but wouldn’t it be better to get mental health trained professionals there that can help diffuse the situation before you have to have the police there using lethal weapons,” Stettner said.

He suggests those with autism consider registering with the police department so officers will know before an interaction. In Maryland, a butterfly symbol on state IDs indicates a hidden disability.

“The whole way that that call was handled from the moment that he called to the end of it, we have to reexamine that and make sure it happens in a different way going forward,” Stettner said.

The attorney general’s office of independent investigations continues looking at the circumstances surrounding the fatal shooting and will determine if charges will be filed.

In response to the shooting, Howard County said it’s investing in more training, resources and tasers.

In a statement, Lamorie’s family criticized the response, saying the family wasn’t offered any crisis support, resources or victim services. The family called for an impartial investigation as well as meaningful and effective change.