Victor Romero, 62, a retired New York City police detective, was arrested and charged with murder after a man was fatally shot on the George Washington Bridge.
Police said the victim was identified as Koran Irvine, 46, of Valley Cottage, who was found unconscious and unresponsive in the driver’s seat with a gunshot wound to the rear of his right shoulder.
Officers responded to a 911 call after a Volkswagen was seen stopped on the outbound upper-level roadway shortly after 7:18 p.m., and EMS took Irvine to a hospital where he was pronounced dead.
Investigators said surveillance footage showed Irvine’s Volkswagen swerving from the West 179th Street ramp and nearly colliding with a black Range Rover, after which the Range Rover allegedly sped up and a single shot struck Irvine.
Detectives identified a company-registered Range Rover through cameras, located the vehicle outside Romero’s Haverstraw home, and asked Romero to come to the 33rd Precinct for questioning, which he did, police said.
Romero was charged shortly after the interview and his vehicle has been seized for forensic search, while detectives await a judge’s authorization to serve a search warrant on his home.
Police said detectives were reviewing video footage that may have captured the shooting as they examined whether road rage played a role in the incident.
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The shooting prompted lane closures on the span, and the Port Authority said lanes reopened about five hours later, according to reports.
Con Edison, where Irvine worked, issued a statement saying the company was heartbroken by the tragic loss and offered condolences to his family, friends, and colleagues.
Irvine’s wife, Patricia Irvine, said the couple had two children and was still processing the loss, while a GoFundMe tribute described him as a man full of life and dedication to his family.
Neighbors remembered Irvine as quiet and helpful, with one neighbor saying he welcomed new residents and even shared eggs, and another saying the community was shaken by the shooting.
Officials also provided background on Romero’s service, saying he joined the NYPD in 1994 and retired in 2001 on a three quarters disability pension after injuries sustained in a 2000 off duty shooting at a family laundromat in East Flatbush.
Police said Romero is now employed driving executives for a company and detectives will continue to search for corroborating evidence as the investigation proceeds.
