Victor Romero, a 62-year-old retired New York Police Department detective, has been charged with murder in connection with the fatal shooting of Koran Irvine, a 46-year-old off-duty Con Edison worker, on the George Washington Bridge (GWB). Investigators are treating the incident as an apparent road rage shooting.
Romero was taken into custody on Wednesday after police questioned him about the shooting, which took place on Tuesday evening. Authorities confirmed that he had been charged with murder but have not immediately disclosed information about an attorney representing him.
Romero lives in Haverstraw, New York, and retired from the NYPD in 2001, around 25 years ago. Police have not released the make and model of the vehicle associated with him, although investigators have been examining whether a black Range Rover was involved in the incident.
What Happened In The George Washington Bridge Shooting?
Irvine, who lived in Valley Cottage, New York, was found wounded and unconscious inside his vehicle on the upper level of the George Washington Bridge on Tuesday shortly after 7 p.m. He was taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
According to law enforcement sources, Irvine was driving a blue Volkswagen Golf when a shot was fired through the car’s rear passenger window. The bullet reportedly struck the driver’s seat headrest before entering his body, hitting his shoulder and exiting through his neck. His vehicle subsequently struck a median and came to a stop, while the suspected shooter was seen driving away.
Sources told NBC New York that video footage captured Irvine nearly crashing into another driver on an entrance ramp shortly before the shooting. Police are investigating the possibility that the incident stemmed from road rage.
The shooting prompted authorities to shut down the bridge’s upper level around 7 PM, causing major traffic disruptions. All lanes reopened at approximately 1 AM on Wednesday.
Investigators have reviewed surveillance footage and recovered a bullet fragment from Irvine’s vehicle for analysis. Romero’s car is in NYPD custody, while his home in Haverstraw has been secured pending a search warrant and further investigation.
Irvine’s death has left his family and community grieving. He is survived by his wife and two children. Neighbors described him as a kind and helpful person, while Con Edison expressed heartbreak over the loss of its employee.
The investigation into the circumstances surrounding the shooting remains ongoing.
