The National Association of Social Workers Maryland Chapter (NASW-MD) stands in solidarity with the Autism Society of America and the undersigned organizations and strongly condemns the fatal police shooting of Alex LaMorie, a young adult with autism, who called 911 for help during a mental health crisis in Columbia, Maryland, on March 1, 2026. We recognize the profound pain and trauma experienced not only by Alex’s loved ones, but also by other residents of the disability-inclusive housing community who witnessed or were exposed to this violence, many of whom are themselves vulnerable and marginalized individuals. We offer our deepest condolences to all those affected by this preventable tragedy.

Patuxent Commons is a newly established residential community created through more than a decade of collaboration among community partners, government, and nonprofit organizations to provide affordable, independent, inclusive, community-based living for people with autism, seniors, and low-income families. Shortly after moving there, late in the evening, Alex, following his safety plan, called 911 and reported being the victim of online extortion. He requested a wellness check and stated that he was having thoughts of self-harm. After the police arrived, Alex was killed by multiple gunshot wounds, less than 30 minutes into Governor Wes Moore’s declaration of March as Developmental Disabilities Month in the state of Maryland.

Following the release of the body camera footage by the Maryland Attorney General’s Office, we share the concern that the video raises serious questions about whether the four responding officers had adequate preparedness, crisis-intervention training, de-escalation strategies, and access to non-lethal options when responding to Alex during a suicidal crisis.

The presence of multiple officers with their weapons already drawn, combined with the apparent failure to use intermediate non-lethal alternatives when responding to a young autistic adult who was alone near a parking lot, holding a small knife, and at risk of harming himself, raises significant concerns about the use of excessive force and whether the response was proportionate and necessary under the circumstances.

NASW-MD has long opposed the use of excessive force by law enforcement, as it has historically and disproportionately harmed marginalized communities, including Black, Brown, Indigenous, LGBTQI+, disabled, immigrant, and other long-underserved populations. Systemic racism, ableism, bias, and inequitable policing practices continue to place many individuals at heightened risk of harm.

We are also deeply concerned by the broader issues highlighted in this case, including online exploitation, the disproportionate victimization of people with disabilities, and the overreliance on police in behavioral health crises. The Arc’s National Center on Criminal Justice and Disability reports that 50% to 80% of police encounters involve a person with some type of disability, and people with disabilities are significantly more likely to be victims of crime and become entangled in the justice system (The Arc, n.d.). Research also reveals that people displaying signs of mental illness are significantly more likely to be killed in police shootings (Lindenfeld et al., 2025), while autistic individuals experience elevated rates of bullying, exploitation, and violence (Trundle et al., 2023; Gibbs et al., 2023). These disparities underscore the urgent need for prevention, accessible supports, and crisis responses centered on de-escalation, safety, and care.

NASW-MD also supports the demand that the Maryland Attorney General’s Office conduct a full, transparent, and accountable investigation into this tragedy, consistent with Fourth Amendment protections. We urge that the involved officers’ actions be evaluated based on the totality of the circumstances, including crisis indicators, available de-escalation options, and decisions made throughout the encounter, rather than solely on the final moments. This call reflects NASW’s long-standing commitment to social justice, human rights, and opposition to police brutality, excessive force, and the criminalization of mental illness and disability.

Call to Action

NASW-MD recognizes the difficult and often dangerous work performed by first responders and acknowledges that many police officers enter this profession to serve and protect their communities. At the same time, responding safely to mental health and disability-related crises requires specialized skills, clinical understanding, and coordinated intervention. We call upon social workers to lead reform efforts in their local municipalities and states by advocating for 911 diversion programs that route behavioral health emergencies to trained mental health responders whenever possible, expanding co-responder models that embed mental health professionals alongside police when safety risks are present, and ensuring communities have access to 24/7 co-crisis response services. These reforms not only improve outcomes for individuals in crisis but also support the well-being of police officers, who are often tasked with responding to complex behavioral health situations for which they are not adequately trained, contributing to their occupational stress and increased risks of substance use and suicide. Social workers play a critical role in providing prevention, treatment, and mental health support to police officers. 

We also call for mandatory disability-informed crisis response training so emergency personnel can recognize disability-related needs, communicate effectively, and de-escalate safely using the least restrictive interventions. In addition, we urge social workers in their states to support public policy reforms requiring police and all law enforcement to carry graduated less-lethal response tools with comprehensive training, alongside strict use-of-force policies that ensure such tools are used as alternatives to deadly force, not as compliance measures.

Considerations for Social Workers

The tragic, fatal police shooting of Alex LaMorie further raises an urgent ethical dilemma for social workers and other helping professionals when developing safety plans with clients experiencing mental health crises: when we advise someone to call 911, are we leading them to safety or placing them at risk of harm? While the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline is an important step forward, it has limitations, including situations in which calls may be transferred to 911 when a person is deemed to be in imminent danger.

NASW-MD calls for immediate action to ensure that social workers are trained to identify and incorporate all available crisis response resources in their communities, not solely 911, when creating safety plans with clients. Where 911 remains part of emergency response systems, NASW-MD urges social workers to raise their voices for reform that demands the inclusion of mental health and EMS response. This call reflects NASW’s unwavering commitment to ending excessive force, advancing racial and disability justice, and ensuring that every person, especially those in mental health crisis, is met with care, dignity, safety, and responses that are graduated, proportionate, and centered on preserving life rather than violence.

NASW-MD also supports the demand that the Maryland Attorney General’s Office conduct a full, transparent, and accountable investigation into this tragedy, consistent with Fourth Amendment protections. We urge that the involved officers’ actions be evaluated based on the totality of the circumstances, including crisis indicators, available de-escalation options, and decisions made throughout the encounter, rather than solely on the final moments. 

Alex LaMorie’s death must not be met with silence. It must compel change.