Family members of 25-year-old Alexander Lamorie have expressed deep discontent following Maryland prosecutors’ decision not to file criminal charges against three Howard County police officers involved in his fatal shooting on March 1. Lamorie, who was diagnosed with autism, died after police fired multiple rounds during a mental health crisis situation.
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The Maryland Attorney General, Anthony G. Brown, made the announcement that no charges would be filed against Officers Cody Bostic, Joel Rodriguez, and Pfc. Joseph Riebau. The decision came after a thorough investigation determined that the officers acted lawfully as they encountered Lamorie, who was reportedly holding a knife during the incident. The investigation revealed that the officers discharged their weapons a total of 12 times.
Lamorie’s family argues that the officers were inadequately prepared to handle the situation, claiming that the shooting could have been avoided. Dr. Jill Harrington, Lamorie’s mother, stated that the report highlights their preparedness prior to arriving on the scene. “The report confirms in new detail that the responding officers were well aware that Alex was experiencing a mental health crisis before they arrived,” she remarked. “They came to the scene completely unprepared, without the proper equipment, the proper plan, and treating Alex’s life-threatening behavioural-medical crisis like a crime.”
The sequence of events began shortly before midnight on February 28, when Lamorie contacted authorities, alleging harassment and blackmail from an individual he met on the messaging app Telegram. The report indicates that Lamorie expressed suicidal thoughts during the conversation, prompting the officers to seek an emergency psychiatric evaluation.
Upon arrival at Lamorie’s apartment, police discovered an unlocked door but were unable to locate him despite searching the premises and surrounding stairwells. As they exited the building, they encountered Lamorie, who approached with a knife in hand. The officers attempted to de-escalate the situation, with Pfc. Riebau urging him to drop the weapon. Lamorie responded by expressing a desire to end his life, explicitly stating he wanted to be free of pain.
Despite the officers’ repeated commands to stop, Lamorie continued to advance towards them, leading the three officers to discharge their firearms when he was approximately 12 to 16 feet away. The initial report concluded that Lamorie was pronounced dead at the scene just a short time later.
The investigation revealed that after reviewing evidence, prosecutors felt they could not meet the standard to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the officers acted unlawfully. However, this decision has further inflamed concerns from Lamorie’s family, who feel that the police response was inadequate and improper.
Dr. Harrington has expressed frustration over the lack of necessary tools to manage such crises, highlighting body-camera footage where an officer inquired about the availability of a Taser, only to discover it was unavailable. “I am disappointed with the report’s findings,” she stated. “This is the definition of gross negligence and, in our opinion, warranted a charge of involuntary manslaughter.”
Supporters of Lamorie’s family are now calling for a reassessment of how law enforcement approaches incidents that involve individuals experiencing mental health crises. They argue that officers require additional training and resources to handle such delicate and potentially dangerous situations effectively.
In the face of tragedy, it appears the case has not only drawn attention to the specific events surrounding Lamorie’s death but also to the broader issues of how law enforcement interacts with individuals facing mental health challenges. As discussions continue on police reform and mental health awareness, Lamorie’s family hopes their efforts will lead to significant changes that could prevent future incidents of this nature.