‘RHOC’ Star Lydia McLaughlin Mourns After Brother Fatally Shot by Police in Newport Beach

Lydia McLaughlin, known for her time on "The Real Housewives of Orange County," is facing an unimaginable loss after her brother, Geoffrey Shyam Stirling, was shot and killed by police in Newport Beach, California.

According to city police, Stirling, 45, died on Thursday night after an altercation during a routine traffic stop on Pacific Coast Highway. Authorities say he was pulled over for a traffic violation around 9:15pm. What started as a regular stop escalated when Stirling allegedly became uncooperative and assaulted the officer. Police claim Stirling managed to grab the officer’s taser and tried to use it multiple times before the officer opened fire.

Emergency responders arrived quickly and provided aid, but Stirling was later pronounced dead at a local hospital. The California Department of Justice has stepped in to conduct an independent investigation, with findings to be reviewed by their Special Prosecutions Section. The investigation remains ongoing.

Lydia, 44, released a heartfelt statement asking for privacy and expressing gratitude for the outpouring of support. Her father, Scott Stirling, president of Newfoundland Broadcasting Company, described Geoffrey as a loving son, brother, and uncle, as well as a multi-talented creative who attended church and supported charities. "We miss him already," he shared.

This tragedy comes just six months after Lydia lost her mother, Judy Stirling, to breast cancer. On Saturday, Lydia posted a touching tribute to her brother on Instagram, recalling how he often listened to Billie Eilish’s "Birds of a Feather" after their mother’s passing. "He’d cry every time," she wrote, adding, "I can’t believe we’re facing this pain just 6 months after losing my best friend and mother. I know they’re both with Jesus now, and He’s walking with me through this darkness. One step at a time."

Lydia, who appeared on the eighth and twelfth seasons of RHOC, has weathered more than her fair share of heartbreak this past year. The ongoing investigation into her brother’s death will determine what comes next, but for now, the McLaughlin and Stirling families are left to grieve and seek answers.