Former NYPD detective faces murder charge in bridge shooting
A grand jury in Lower Manhattan indicted Victor Romero on second-degree murder Tuesday in the fatal shooting of Koran Irvine on the George Washington Bridge.
By Enzo Conti ·
If you drive into New York City, this case is about what happened during a lane change. A grand jury in Lower Manhattan indicted former NYPD detective Victor Romero on second-degree murder charges Tuesday afternoon. The charge was raised from the first-degree manslaughter count he was arraigned on last week. Romero posted $1 million bail and has been free pending the case.
The charge stems from a fatal shooting on the upper level of the George Washington Bridge. Prosecutors say the confrontation began about 6:45 p.m. on a Tuesday when Romero and Koran Irvine, 46, changed lanes at the same time and nearly collided. Surveillance video shows Romero tailgating Irvine's Volkswagen Golf in a black company Range Rover, then pulling alongside and firing through the rear passenger window. Romero then drove onto the Palisades Interstate Parkway toward his home in Haverstraw, New York. Irvine died from his injuries.
Romero was seen publicly for the first time Tuesday as he walked into a Lower Manhattan courtroom. He did not respond to questions from reporters. Inside, he sat on the left side of the courtroom, and he left a short time later.
Irvine was a Con Edison electrician and mechanic heading home from work when the shooting happened. About 100 Con Edison workers gathered outside the courthouse as the case moved forward. Some shouted "Murderer! Murderer!" as Romero entered and left the building. Shop steward Chris Demmerle said he had trouble recognizing Romero in court. Patricia Irvine, the victim's wife, said the surveillance footage is clear about what happened: "It was murder, and that's that."
Patricia Irvine has also questioned how Romero was able to post bail. Speaking to ABC New York affiliate WABC on Monday, she said authorities had requested that bail be denied. The case has drawn criticism over what some see as preferential treatment for Romero, a former NYPD detective. Friends and colleagues of Irvine said they were seeking answers about his death.
Source: ABC7 Los Angeles
