‘RHOC’ alum Lydia McLaughlin mourns brother shot during traffic stop

“The Real Housewives of Orange County” alum Lydia McLaughlin is speaking out about the death of brother Geoffrey Shyam Stirling, who was shot April 17 during a traffic stop.

On April 19, McLaughlin, 44, shared a photo of her older brother on Instagram and mourned his death in the caption. 

“My family has experienced an unimaginable loss. My brother, Geoff, was tragically taken and our hearts are shattered,” she wrote. 

The reality television star shared that her brother died about six months after the death of her mother, whom she referred to as her “best friend.”

“I know they’re both with Jesus now, and He’s walking with me through this darkness. One step at a time,” McLaughlin continued. 

She ended the post by thanking everyone who has been praying for her family. 

McLaughlin also shared the tribute to her Instagram story, set to Billie Eilish’s song “Birds of a Feather.” She said in her post that her brother listened to the song following the death of their mother. She added that when he heard it, “He’d cry every time.”

The Newport Beach Police Department confirmed Geoffrey Stirling was shot during a traffic stop in a statement posted to its official Instagram account.

The shooting occurred on April 17 around 9:15 p.m. after police pulled over a motorcyclist. 

“The rider, identified as Geoffrey Shyam Stirling, a 45-year-old resident of Laguna Niguel, was stopped for a traffic violation,” authorities said. 

Police said Geoffrey Stirling became "uncooperative" and "assaulted the officer."

"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," the police department said in the statement.

Geoffrey Stirling was taken to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead, police said.

Authorities confirmed that the case is an active investigation and that the California Department of Justice is involved. The DOJ’s Special Prosecutions Section will independently review the case.

McLaughlin’s brother Jesse Stirling also remembered his late sibling on social media. He uploaded a picture to Instagram of Geoffrey Stirling smiling and wrote in the caption, “Beloved son, brother & friend. Miss you & love you broseph.” 

In a second post, he shared a collage of four photos. He penned a lengthy tribute in the caption. 

“Dear Brother, We have hundreds of photos together and shared thousands of adventures. I don’t even know how to begin this memorial,” he wrote. “I’ll just say that you left us too soon at age 45. I’ll miss your spirit full of laughter and boundless enthusiasm. Though our time together was heartbreakingly cut short, the memories we created will forever echo in my heart.”

McLaughlin commented on the post and said, “Love you brother,” with a red heart.

McLaughlin starred in Season 8 of “Real Housewives of Orange County” before departing the Bravo show. She returned as a main cast member for Season 12.