Colleagues, Advocates Remember Autism Advocate Fatally Shot by Police

Alex LaMorie's work helped shape conversations around grief and autism

Published on Mar. 6, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Colleagues and advocates gathered at a conference in Baltimore this week to remember Alex LaMorie, a man with autism who was fatally shot by police in Columbia. LaMorie was remembered as a passionate voice for people with autism and a colleague whose work changed how many understand grief. He contributed to the website AutismAndGrief.org and his colleagues said his involvement was instrumental in bringing firsthand insight to the project.

Why it matters

LaMorie's death is devastating for the grief support community, which lost a friend, colleague and advocate whose work helped thousands better understand grief among people with autism. His personal experiences and perspective helped shape important conversations about how people with autism process loss.

The details

Police said LaMorie called 911 while in distress, and when officers arrived, he was holding a knife and refused repeated commands to drop it. Three officers then opened fire, fatally shooting LaMorie. The Maryland Attorney General's Office is reviewing body-worn camera video from the incident.

  • LaMorie spoke at the same conference several years ago.
  • LaMorie died on Sunday after the police incident.

The players

Alex LaMorie

A man with autism who was a passionate voice for people with autism and whose work changed how many understand grief.

Amy Tucci

With the Hospice Foundation of America, she said LaMorie's involvement was instrumental in bringing firsthand insight to the AutismAndGrief.org project.

Kenneth Doka

A longtime leader in the grief counseling community, he described LaMorie as deeply committed to advocacy.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“He was very committed, very interested and really looked at himself as a real advocate for people on the spectrum.”

— Kenneth Doka, Grief counseling community leader

“I think I can say collectively for our staff — we were all shocked. We were very shocked.”

— Amy Tucci, Hospice Foundation of America

What’s next

The Maryland Attorney General's Office is reviewing body-worn camera video from the incident.

The takeaway

LaMorie's death is a devastating loss for the grief support community, which has lost a passionate advocate whose work helped thousands better understand how people with autism process grief and loss. His personal experiences and perspective made him a valuable voice in shaping important conversations around this issue.