‘RHOC’ Alum Lydia McLaughlin Is ‘Devastated’ By Her Brother’s Death During Traffic Stop

"Real Housewives of Orange County" alum Lydia McLaughlin is mourning the loss of her brother, who was shot and killed during a traffic stop in California on Thursday, April 17, 2025.

The reality star, who appeared on the show in 2013 and 2018, revealed she was "devastated" by the loss of her sibling before asking for "privacy" during this challenging time.

According to a statement from the Newport Beach Police Department, Lydia McLaughlin's brother, Geoffrey Shyam Stirling, was shot after being "uncooperative" during a routine traffic stop.

Lydia McLaughlin's Brother Was Shot Dead By Newport Beach Police During A Traffic Stop

According to TMZ, Stirling was reportedly riding his motorcycle along the Pacific Coast Highway in Newport Beach when police officers pulled him over.

A source claimed Stirling became "uncooperative" with the law enforcement officers, causing one of them to shoot him.

No police officers were injured during the encounter.

Newport Beach Police Department Stopped Lydia McLaughlin's Brother For A 'Traffic Violation'

On April 18, the Newport Beach Police Department shared more details about the shooting on their Instagram.

They explained that after stopping Stirling on "West Coast Highway," the 45-year-old became defiant and "assaulted" one of the officers.

"Shortly after being stopped, Stirling became uncooperative and assaulted the officer," the post read. "During the ensuing violent altercation, Stirling managed to remove the department-issued taser from the officer’s duty belt and attempted to deploy it multiple times against the officer. At that point, an officer-involved shooting occurred."

Other officers arrived on the scene and attempted to render aid to McLaughlin's brother before he was transported to the local hospital, where he later passed away.

The post also stated that the California Department of Justice (DOJ) would be conducting an internal investigation into the incident.

Lydia McLaughlin Says Her Family Is 'Devastated' By The Passing Of Her Brother

In a statement to TMZ, McLaughlin, 44, said she and her family were grieving the loss of her brother.

"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.”

Although she hasn't explicitly addressed the news on her social media yet, she did share a cryptic post on Instagram with the message: "He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds."

Her "Real Housewives" co-star, Vicki Gunvalson, commented and offered her support to McLaughlin and her family.

"Lydia - I am so sorry to hear of the loss of your brother! My heart hurts for you and your family. Peace be with you," Gunvalson wrote.

Others also chimed in, sending love and encouragement her way.

McLaughlin Lost Her Mother Six Months Ago

In another Instagram post, McLaughlin opened up to her followers about how she's learned to process grief after her mother passed away.

She explained that attending a group, Grief Share, has "helped me in my healing and processing my grief."

The "Orange County" alum continued, "Grief can make you better or bitter. I am putting in my whole heart to turn my sorrow into thanksgiving, for having the privilege to have such a beautiful mom. She will always be my hero, and my favorite."

Gunvalson Slammed Bravo As The 'Devil' During Docuseries

Gunvalson, who's no longer appearing on the popular reality series after being the center of the cast for over a decade, blasted the Bravo network during her appearance in the tell-all docuseries "The Dark Side of Reality TV."

In the scene, she explained how she was paid very little during the show's earlier days and likened it to making a deal "with the devil."

"Season 2, I believe I got paid $5,000 for the whole season. Not much money, I didn't even have an attorney look over my contract. I had no idea what I was doing," the celebrity explained.

She also slammed the network for how it handled filming her discovering her mother's death.

"They were out of line, and I think they should have taken me aside and said, 'Your mom has passed. Talk to your daughter off-camera.' If I was a producer, that's what I would've done," the Bravo veteran stated.