Grand jury indicts retired NYPD detective on murder charge in alleged road-rage bridge shooting
A grand jury returned an indictment on Tuesday charging a retired New York City police detective with 2nd-degree murder in the alleged road-rage shooting on the George Washington Bridge that left a Con Edison worker dead.
The charges against 62-year-old Victor Romero were upgraded from first-degree manslaughter following "an extensive ongoing investigation" into the Oct. 20 shooting that left Koran Irvine, a married father of two, dead, according to the Manhattan District Attorney's Office.
Romero is scheduled to be arraigned on the indictment Nov. 23. Romero remains free on $1 million bail.
Before Tuesday afternoon's announcement on the murder indictment, the victim's widow called for justice, saying, "He needs to pay."
Romero was initially charged with murder, but prosecutors reduced the charge to first-degree manslaughter last week, which Romero pleaded not guilty to.
Romero appeared for a brief hearing on Tuesday in Manhattan Criminal Court, where a prosecutor informed a judge that a grand jury was meeting to hear evidence in the case and vote on an indictment.
In an interview Monday with ABC New York City station WABC, Irvine's widow, Patricia Irvine, expressed outrage that Romero was allowed to post bail.
"He's home. How is that possible?" said Patricia Irvine, adding, "For him to be walking around and be with his family is unacceptable."
She alleged that despite being trained by the NYPD, Romero made a "very reckless decision" that claimed her husband's life.
"He killed my husband. There's no disputing that," Patricia Irvine alleged.
Irvine was driving home from work when he nearly collided with Romero's vehicle as they merged in the same lane simultaneously on the Manhattan side of the George Washington Bridge, according to a police affidavit filed in support of the criminal complaint against Romero.
Security video showed a black Range Rover belonging to a company Romero now works for as a chauffeur nearly colliding with Irvine's vehicle, according to the affidavit.
The Range Rover was seen on security footage speeding up and tailgating Irvine's Volkswagen Golf before a single gunshot penetrated the rear window of the victim's car, fatally hitting him in the back of his right shoulder, according to the affidavit.
The Range Rover was seen on video speeding away as the victim's car crashed into the center median, the affidavit alleges. Using the video to identify the owner of the Range Rover, investigators were able to track down Romero at his workplace a day after the shooting, according to an affidavit.
Romero surrendered a loaded revolver he told officers he always carries with him and was asked to voluntarily surrender for questioning, according to the affidavit.
He was arrested after being questioned at the 33rd Precinct in Manhattan on Wednesday.
