Jill Harrington, a clinician known for supporting first responders through trauma and crises, is grappling with the loss of her 25-year-old autistic son, Alex LaMorie, who was fatally shot by police in Maryland in March. LaMorie had called 911 to report an online scam and harassment but was killed after officers responded to the call and confronted him while he was holding a knife.

Authorities said that when LaMorie refused commands to drop the knife and approached the officers, they opened fire. The Howard County police recovered twelve cartridge casings at the scene, and the Maryland attorney general’s office reported that LaMorie was shot 11 times, including wounds to his chest, abdomen, forearm, and hip. LaMorie had expressed suicidal statements during his 911 call, according to police.

Harrington, who has spent her career counseling first responders facing traumatic events, described her grief as complex and profound. She said her son did not receive the “competent and compassionate lifesaving care” he needed in that moment. Reflecting on the body-camera footage, she recalled her son’s last words, in which he expressed a desire not to live and sought relief from pain. “He needed help, not harm,” she said.

LaMorie’s family has sought to find comfort amid the tragedy. His sister, Madeline LaMorie, described holding on to memories of their final night together celebrating their mother’s birthday. She spoke of searching for “Alex sprinkles” — everyday reminders of her brother, such as shared interests in video games. Harrington has turned to creative outlets and spiritual practices to cope, completing a paint-by-numbers rendition of “Starry Night,” her son’s favorite artwork.

The Howard County police department stated that the officers involved had received crisis intervention training, with one identified as a specially trained negotiator. A department spokesperson noted that the Mobile Crisis Team—a group of mental health professionals who typically assist in longer-duration incidents—was not called to the scene because the situation “unfolded quickly and did not allow time.” The department has since issued a new general order guiding officers in responding to people experiencing mental health crises, emphasizing nonthreatening body language and prompt notification of appropriate agencies when danger is suspected.

Despite these measures, critics and experts have questioned whether the officers’ response was appropriate, given LaMorie’s autism and mental health state. M. David Rudd, a psychology professor at the University of Memphis, said that individuals in a mental health crisis require sustained engagement, such as prolonged dialogue, to help de-escalate. Similarly, Paul Nestadt, a psychiatry professor at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, noted that LaMorie may have been overstimulated and unable to fully comprehend police commands.

The Maryland Fraternal Order of Police acknowledged the challenges officers face during such encounters, with Angelo Consoli, its second vice president, emphasizing the need for adequate funding and staffing to maintain crisis response programs. He also highlighted the difficult decisions officers must make when dealing with someone threatening themselves or others with a weapon, noting that officers must act quickly if they cannot maintain a safe distance.

Harrington, whose family includes military personnel and law enforcement officers, emphasized that support for police and demands for accountability are not mutually exclusive. She recognized the burden officers now bear following her son’s death but maintained that her son’s death should serve as a lesson in improving how lives are saved during mental health emergencies. “I don’t want his death to eclipse the rest of his life,” she said, “but maybe his death can also bring light on how to save a life.”