Geoffrey Shyam Stirling, brother of Real Housewives of Orange County alum Lydia McLaughlin, died following an altercation with an officer, as per police. Authorities claim that Stirling grabbed the officer's taser in an attempt to use it against him, prompting a shooting that took his life. He was 45 years old.
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According to Newport Beach Police, and reported by TMZ, Stirling successfully removed the taser from the officer's duty belt during the incident on Thursday, April 17, at around 9:15 p.m. in Orange County, California. He then "attempted to deploy it multiple times against the officer." Reportedly, this incident happened during a traffic stop, with police claiming Stirling was uncooperative.
As Stirling reportedly grabbed the officer's taser, "an officer-involved shooting occurred." Police officers present rendered medical aid until the Newport Beach Fire Department arrived at the scene and rushed Stirling to a local hospital. There, however, Geoffrey Shyam Stirling was declared dead.
The California Department of Justice issued a press release a day after the incident. The California DOJ will carry out an independent investigation into the officer-involved shooting.
"Upon completion of the investigation, it will be turned over to DOJ's Special Prosecutions Section within the Criminal Law Division for independent review," the DOJ press release reads.
McLaughlin Mourns
Lydia McLaughlin, Stirling's sister, shared a brief statement with TMZ, addressing her brother's passing.
"My family and I are devastated by the loss of my brother," she said. "We are grateful for the outpouring of love and support from friends, family, and the community. We kindly ask for privacy as we mourn."
On Saturday, April 19, McLaughlin took to Instagram to mourn her brother, posting a picture of him.
"My family has experienced an unimaginable loss. My brother, Geoff, was tragically taken and our hearts are shattered," she wrote in the post's caption. '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," she concluded. "Thank you to everyone who has been praying for us."
Geoffrey Shyam Stirling was born in San Diego and started a career in modeling at the age of 16. He also began acting, as well as pursuing other ventures such as a TV producer, karate instructor, and stuntman, according to the Daily Mail.
Earlier this month, Lydia McLaughlin remembered her mother on the six-month anniversary of her passing.
