Howard County police fatally shoot man with autism

Authorities say 25-year-old Alex Lamorie called 911 to report an extortion scheme before the deadly encounter

Mar. 13, 2026 at 12:09am

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Howard County leaders said many questions remain after a 25-year-old Columbia man with autism was shot and killed by police on March 1. The Maryland Attorney General's Office's Independent Investigations Division is investigating the incident, in which three county police officers opened fire on Alex Lamorie outside his apartment after he called 911 to report an extortion scheme.

Why it matters

The police shooting of a person with a mental health condition or disability has raised concerns about the county's crisis intervention training and use of force policies. The family has expressed deep grief over the loss and criticized the county's response, saying it lacked compassion and trauma-informed support.

The details

According to police, Lamorie himself called 911 earlier that day to report that he believed he was the victim of an online extortion scheme. Police said officers encountered Lamorie outside his apartment and that he was holding a knife. Two of the three officers involved had completed crisis intervention training, while the third was a trained negotiator. Officials could not say whether the officers were carrying less-lethal options like Tasers or pepper spray.

  • On March 1, 2026, Alex Lamorie was fatally shot by Howard County police officers outside his Columbia apartment.
  • On March 10, 2026, Howard County leaders held a news conference to provide updates on the investigation.

The players

Alex Lamorie

A 25-year-old Columbia man with autism who was fatally shot by Howard County police.

Gregory Der

Howard County Police Chief.

Calvin Ball

Howard County Executive.

Maryland Attorney General's Office's Independent Investigations Division

The state agency investigating the police shooting.

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What they’re saying

“We're now exploring the expansion of less-lethal tools, including the purchasing of additional Tasers, so our officers have more alternatives when facing dangerous and unpredictable circumstances.”

— Calvin Ball, Howard County Executive

“Our department is actively investigating the extortion crime committed against Alex. Our goal is to identify the person or people responsible and hold them accountable through criminal charges.”

— Gregory Der, Howard County Police Chief

What’s next

The Maryland Attorney General's Office's Independent Investigations Division continues to investigate the police shooting, and the results of their investigation are pending.

The takeaway

This tragic incident has raised concerns about the county's crisis intervention training, use of force policies, and support for families and communities affected by such events. Improving mental health-informed responses and expanding less-lethal options for officers could help prevent future tragedies involving vulnerable individuals.