EspañolCalifornia Department of Justice Investigating Fatal Shooting of Motorcyclist Geoffrey Stirling During Newport Beach Traffic Stop
NEWPORT BEACH, CALIFORNIA (April 18, 2025) – A motorcyclist identified as Geoffrey Stirling, of Laguna Niguel, has tragically died in a Newport Beach police shooting along Pacific Coast Highway.
Orange County officials are saying that the incident took place around 9:15 PM on Thursday, not far from Superior Avenue. Newport Beach police officers conducted a traffic stop involving Geoffrey Stirling.
Authorities are claiming that he became “uncooperative” before at least one officer shot him. One witness told reporters that she recalls hearing roughly 5 shots. Paramedics were called to the scene in order to help the victim.
He was transported to Hoag Hospital in critical condition. Despite life-saving measures at the hospital, Geoffrey Stirling died due to his injuries.
California Attorney General Rob Bonta has announced that the deadly shooting is currently being investigated by the state DOJ. A review is required by the state DOJ anytime any unarmed person is killed by the police.
Liability for Newport Beach Police Shootings
California has one of the highest instances of police shootings. According to the Public Policy Institute of California, “About 195 people die each year from interactions with California law enforcement. Gunshots are by far the most common cause of death: nearly 250 people are shot by police each year.” Police officers in California must follow the Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST). What follows are several measures mandated by POST that officers must take in order to avoid police shootings.
- Request backup
- Calm the situation
- Avoid physical contact
- Determine if the suspect is taking medication
- Acknowledge the suspect’s feelings
- Not make any threats
Police officers must take great care to avoid needlessly harming any suspect. They must de-escalate any encounter to the best of their ability and only use lethal force as a measure of last resort. According to 42 U.S. Code § 1983, every person who, under the color of law, deprives someone of their rights afforded under the Constitution, shall be liable to the injured party in an action at law. If an officer fails to follow a safety rule promulgated by their department, this could serve as evidence of negligence.
Whether or not an officer’s use of force can be considered excessive will depend in part on their actions prior to the shooting. Consider, for example, Grudt v. City of Los Angeles (1970). Two plainclothes officers fatally shot a man without properly identifying themselves as police officers. In that case, the California Supreme Court held that an officers failure to follow procedures could be considered in determining whether force was justified. It is important that certain actions be taken after any police shooting.
- Body camera footage from all officers involved should be reviewed.
- The actions of police officers leading up to the shooting should be evaluated.
- The potential history of misconduct of any officers involved should be scrutinized.
- An experienced civil rights attorney should be contacted.
Police shootings are often highly preventable. They tend to involve officers who are either unwilling or unable to de-escalate encounters. To make matters worse, police departments will virtually never accept responsibility if one of their officers kills a suspect. When they investigate themselves, they will nearly always come to the conclusion that their officers didn’t do anything wrong. This is why it is so important for any fatal police encounter to be properly examined by an outside party.
Investigating Newport Beach Police Shootings
We at the Carrillo Law Firm extend our deepest condolences to the family of Geoffrey Stirling. Any person that may have more information should reach out to investigators. There needs to be a thorough investigation into what happened. The Newport Beach Police Department should do the right thing and be transparent. Many questions regarding this tragedy remain unanswered. What were the preshooting actions of the involved officers? Have they been previously disciplined for excessive force or other forms of misconduct?
Do you need more information about an Orange County police shooting? Our team of civil rights attorneys can help get you the support and information you are entitled to. We are committed to holding police departments accountable for their illegal and unconstitutional conduct. We understand how difficult it can be to simply get information if your loved one has been harmed by police brutality. One of the ways that we can assist in the aftermath of a tragedy is to thoroughly investigate what happened and provide answers. Whether you just have legal questions or need a free, independent investigation into any instance of excessive force, we are here to serve your needs. You can contact us anytime at 626-799-9375.
