The Real Housewives of Orange County alum Lydia McLaughlin and her family are reacting to newly released body cam footage that shows the moments that led to the fatal shooting of her brother Geoffrey Stirling.
“The videos have raised serious concerns and many questions about the actions of that police officer,” the Stirling family — composed of McLaughlin, 44, along with her dad Scott and brother Jesse — said in a statement provided by their lawyers to Us Weekly on Thursday, May 8. “Of grave and specific concern is that the videos appear to show Geoff moving away from the officer at the time he was shot six times. The family through their Attorneys plan to file a lawsuit in Federal Court to obtain full answers and seek accountability.”
On Wednesday, May 7, the Newport Beach Police Department released a criminal incident community briefing video – including body cam footage – detailing the events surrounding an officer-involved shooting that occurred on April 17 with Geoffrey.
“The Newport Beach Police Department remains committed to transparency and accountability in all of its operations,” the department said in a statement via Facebook. “The release of this video is part of our ongoing efforts to keep the community informed and engaged.”
In the briefing video, Sergeant Steve Oberon explained that an officer-involved shooting occurred after “Mr. Stirling struck the officer several times in the head and then removed the officer’s taser from his duty belt.”
Body cam footage later showed an officer asking Geoffrey to sit on the curb away from his motorcycle. “I don’t want to sit down or come here,” Geoffrey replied before trying to reach for his own ID. “Don’t shoot me.”
When the officer appeared to turn his back briefly to get on his radio, Geoffrey seemingly lunged toward him before an altercation between both parties occurred. At one point, Geoffrey seemingly grabbed the cop’s taser and pointed it at the cop. The officer then shot him six times.
Geoffrey’s family suggests the body cam footage tells a different story.
“Geoff was experiencing a mental health crisis when he was stopped for a traffic infraction. Geoff was unarmed and posed no deadly threat to the officer,” the family claimed in a statement. “The Stirling family expects that all video and audio footage along with every report and shred of evidence related to this deeply disturbing shooting be preserved for presentation in due course as part of the lawsuit the family will be pursuing. The cause of death was blood loss. Despite the presence of multiple officers reporting to the scene, no aid was initially offered.”
In the briefing video, however, Sergeant Oberon said officers “formulated a plan to take Mr. Stirling into custody and begin administering medical aid. A few minutes after the shooting, the Newport Beach Fire Department arrived on scene and took over medical treatment.”
Chief Dave Miner added that as with all officer-involved shootings, “an independent agency will conduct their own independent investigation.”
Over the weekend, McLaughlin and her family laid Geoffrey to rest at an intimate memorial in Orange County. Geoffrey’s death at the age of 45 comes six months after McLaughlin lost her mom, Judy Stirling, to cancer.
“Just six months ago, we stood in this same place, grieving the loss of my mom. ????,” McLaughlin wrote via Instagram on Monday, May 5. “My heart is broken, and the shock still hasn’t settled. ???? But even in the sorrow, I cling to what I know is true: God is good. He is in control. I am not. My brother is now with my mom, and I hold onto the promise that one day, we’ll all be reunited. Until then, I will miss them every single day. ????????️????????????.”
McLaughlin, along with her dad and Jesse, said in their latest statement that they remain “heartbroken and devastated” that Geoffrey “was taken from them in what appears to be an unjustified use of lethal force.”
“Equally tragic is that there may have been other options and tactics available to the officer that he failed to utilize based on his training,” the statement continued.
Us has reached out to the Newport Beach Police Department for additional comment.
