On April 17, 2025, at approximately 9:15 p.m., a Newport Beach Police Department officer conducted a traffic stop involving a motorcycle on Pacific Coast Highway between Superior Avenue and Hoag Hospital. The rider, who has been identified as Geoffrey Shyam Stirling, a 45-year-old resident of Laguna Niguel, was stopped for a traffic violation. Mr. Stirling was not a resident of Newport Beach and is currently on parole with an extensive criminal history.

During the stop, Mr. Stirling became immediately uncooperative and combative. Despite the officer’s efforts to de-escalate the situation, Mr. Stirling assaulted the officer, which escalated into a violent physical encounter. During the struggle, Mr. Stirling removed the officer’s department-issued taser from his holster on his duty belt, and attempted to deploy it multiple times against the officer, including an attempt directed at the officer’s head. Mr. Stirling then assumed a shooting stance and again attempted to discharge the taser. At that point, an officer-involved shooting occurred.

Additional officers responded to the scene and rendered medical aid to Mr. Stirling until personnel from the Newport Beach Fire Department arrived. Mr. Stirling was transported to a local hospital, where he was later pronounced deceased.

In accordance with California law, the California Department of Justice (DOJ) was notified and responded to the scene to conduct an independent investigation. Once their investigation is complete, the findings will be turned over to DOJ’s Special Prosecutions Section for independent review.

This remains an active investigation. Anyone with information regarding this incident is encouraged to contact the Newport Beach Police Department at (949) 644-3681 or Detective K. Markwald at kmarkwald@nbpd.org.