Family sues Howard County alleging failures before autistic man's shooting

The family of Alex LaMorie, a 25-year-old autistic man fatally shot by Howard County police during a mental health crisis, has sued the county and three officers, alleging violations of the Americans with Disabilities Act and Rehabilitation Act, along with wrongful death and negligence. The lawsuit says LaMorie had called 911 after being targeted in a cyber extortion scheme and expressing thoughts of self-harm, but officers failed to coordinate a response, de-escalate the encounter or summon mental health specialists, and lacked less-lethal options such as Tasers. It alleges officers fired 12 rounds as LaMorie approached with a knife. His family says the shooting was preventable and is seeking accountability and changes to how police respond to disability-related crises; Maryland’s attorney general previously declined to bring criminal charges against the officers.