Lydia McLaughlin, known from The Real Housewives of Orange County, has spoken out following the heartbreaking loss of her brother, Geoffrey Shyam Stirling, who died at age 45 in a tragic police-involved shooting.
Taking to Instagram on Saturday, the 44-year-old shared a touching tribute alongside a portrait of her brother:
“Our family is devastated by an unimaginable loss. My brother Geoff was tragically taken from us, and our hearts are completely shattered.”
Reflecting on Billie Eilish’s 2024 ballad Birds of a Feather, she shared, “This was the song he always turned to after we lost our mom. It moved him to tears every time.”
“It’s hard to comprehend that we’re now enduring this pain just six months after losing my best friend and mother. I believe they’re both with Jesus now, and I trust that He’s walking with me through this darkness — one step at a time.”
According to a report from TMZ, Stirling was fatally shot by police during what was meant to be a routine traffic stop on Thursday.
Per the outlet, he was allegedly ‘uncooperative’ and subsequently shot by one of the cops on the scene.
He was initially pulled over by officers while riding his motorcycle along the Pacific Coast Highway in Newport Beach.
An independent review is underway by the California Attorney General’s Office.
In a statement to TMZ, Lydia expressed: ‘My family and I are devastated by the loss of my brother.
‘We are grateful for the outpouring of love and support from friends, family, and the community. We kindly ask for privacy as we mourn.’
An official release by the California Attorney General’s Office reads: ‘The OIS incident resulted in the death of one individual and involved personnel from the Newport Beach Police Department.’
Following the investigation, ‘it will be turned over to DOJ’s Special Prosecutions Section within the Criminal Law Division for independent review.’
It comes after Lydia lost her mother, Judy Stirling, at age 76 in October 2024.
Amid her grief, Lydia used her social media platform to acknowledge Good Friday.
The Bravo star uploaded a graphic with the message: ‘He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.’
She wrote in the caption, ‘Because of the pain of Good Friday, we have the JOY of Easter Sunday. #JesusIsLord.’
Via Instagram Stories she also shared a poignant message pertaining to Easter. She wrote in part: ‘If you’re in a season of waiting, where God feels silent, if you’re praying and don’t see an answer, don’t give up.
‘What feels like a silent Saturday may just be the day before resurrection. God is still working, even when you can’t see it. Hope is still alive, even when it feels far away. And if Jesus conquered the grave, there is no situation in your life too dead for Him to bring back to life.’
McLaughlin encouraged her followers, ‘So hold on. Keep praying. Keep trusting. Sunday is coming.’
