ELLICOTT CITY, MD – Howard County Executive Calvin Ball today issued the following statement regarding the Howard County Police Department (HCPD) officer involved shooting on Sunday, March 1st in the 6400 block of Freetown Road in Columbia. This statement follows the release of body-worn camera footage from the Maryland Office of the Attorney General.
"There are no words that can adequately express my grief regarding the tragic loss of Alexander Lamorie. As our children grow older and move away from home, our only wish is that they end the day safely. As parents of children who are neurodivergent or differently abled, we often carry a heightened anxiety regarding the safety of our children. My team has been in communication with Alex’s family and the Autism Society of Maryland in advance of the release of footage. Our thoughts and condolences are with Alex’s family and loved ones as they grieve Alex’s loss.
Through this heartache comes our responsibility to support our community. Many of our neighbors are grieving, frightened, and are searching for reassurance. Those feelings are real, and they must be acknowledged with honesty, compassion, and action.
We must continue our efforts to ensure Howard County is and remains one of the safest places for all. This is only possible with a collective commitment to ensure that every Howard County resident, business, and visitor feels safe, respected, and valued.
Our Howard County Police officers strive every day to help keep our community safe, and they are often called upon to make critical decisions in situations that can change in seconds. Since the incident occurred, my team began immediate conversations with Chief Der and our Police Department on strategies to support our residents during mental health crises and support people with autism and other developmental disabilities to ensure they are handled with a great level of understanding, patience, and specialized response.
In the weeks since, we have:
- Purchased 200 tasers so that officers have alternatives when facing dangerous and unpredictable circumstances. We also continue reviewing new technologies and best practices as they emerge.
- Shared information on our confidential 911 flagging program so that dispatchers and responding officers better understand communication styles, potential triggers, and strategies that may help deescalate a situation.
- Enhanced our dedicated officer liaison program to help open dialogue with two-way communication to ensure all ideas are being heard.
- Began reviewing our Critical Incident Training for our officers to encourage continued learning and improving.
Mental health, neurodiversity, and community trust remain vital priorities in our community. We will continue evaluating our policies, strengthening our training, and working alongside families, advocates, and experts to ensure our community remains a place where families feel supported, people in crisis are met with understanding and specialized care, and that every encounter carries the greatest possible chance for a safe outcome.
In this difficult moment, we must lean on one another and reaffirm those values that define our community. Together, we will continue working to build a Howard County where every person, regardless of ability, is treated with dignity, understanding, and care.
If you viewed the body worn camera footage released by the Maryland Office of the Attorney General and it has caused emotional, mental, or physical distress, I encourage you to call or text 988 to talk to someone today."