HOWARD COUNTY, MD. (WBFF) — Attorney General Anthony Brown announced that his office will not file charges in a deadly police-involved shooting in Columbia from earlier this year.
On March 1 around midnight, police responded to the 6400 block of Freetown Road in Columbia after Alexander Lamorie called 911 to report that he was being harassed and blackmailed.
When speaking to police by phone, Lamorie made suicidal statements, authorities said.
Upon arrival, police entered an apartment complex in an attempt to locate Lamorie.
After not finding him inside, they exited the building and encountered Lamorie approaching them from the parking lot with a knife in his hands.
Officers gave multiple commands ordering Lamorie to drop the knife, but he failed to comply and continued to approach the officers.
Three officers fired shots that struck Lamorie.
Police rendered aid until emergency medical services arrived, but Lamorie was pronounced dead on scene.
A knife was located near Lamorie’s body.
WARNING: This video is graphic and not suitable for all audiences.
No police officers were injured in the incident.
In March, Lamorie’s mother issued the following statement:
The horrific footage released today is deeply shocking. The loss of Alex continues to cause deep trauma and pain for me, my husband, Alex’s siblings, family, and friends. I have chosen not to watch the police response to my son’s call for help as a victim of a cyber scam.
Having been a proud member of his family and community, this malicious act triggered severe traumatic shame for Alex, coupled with autism rumination (getting stuck on negative thoughts and emotions) which resulted in an acute suicidal crisis at Patuxent Commons in Columbia, Maryland—an intentional housing community serving low-income adults with disabilities, young adults, and seniors.
The video has been reviewed and summarized to me. My heart breaks to know that my son was in stated pain and suicidal crisis.
It is also disturbing to know that in his cry for help, during his darkest hour, the onus to save himself seems to have been placed on him when he was at his most wounded.
For these reasons and for the protection of my own mental health, I have decided not to watch the body cam footage of my son (one person) being shot and killed by multiple bullet wounds from three out of the four police officers present, with weapons drawn, after he called for their assistance and stated that he was in pain and at risk of self-harm.
In this shroud of darkness, what helps me see some shred of light and restores my sense of faith and hope is the support I continue to receive – mostly from my friends and family who are in law enforcement and are first responders. These are my roots, and it is difficult not to feel a sense of broken faith and trust.
According to the Autism Society Justice Center, thirty to 50 percent of people killed by law enforcement are people with Autism or other disabilities.
We can and must do better. We appreciate and respect that some news stations are not airing the more graphic footage out of respect for the family.
– Dr. Jill Harrington, Mother of Alex LaMorie
The Attorney General’s Independent Investigations Division (IID) investigated the shooting until July 1.
At that time, the Office of the Attorney General determined that the police officers did not commit a crime, and declined prosecution of the officers in the case.
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