Photo: GoFundMe/Nicole Martin-Depelteau
A grand jury has indicted retired New York City police detective Victor Romero on a second-degree murder charge in the fatal shooting of Koran Irvine on the George Washington Bridge, but he remains free on $1 million bail.
Romero, 62, appeared in a Lower Manhattan courtroom Tuesday (October 27). Dozens of Irvine’s coworkers shouted at Romero as he exited the courtroom, according to FOX 5 New York.
The shooting followed an alleged near-collision between Irvine’s Volkswagen Golf and Romero’s vehicle near the George Washington Bridge entrance on October 20.
Prosecutors allege Romero followed Irvine’s car before pulling alongside it and firing through the rear passenger-side window. The bullet struck Irvine in the right shoulder and exited through his neck, according to NBC News.
Irvine, 46, lived in Valley Cottage, New York, and worked for Con Edison for more than 20 years. He is survived by his wife, Patricia, and their children, Lea and Hiro, according to a GoFundMe fundraiser created to support the family.
Romero was initially arrested on a murder charge Wednesday (October 21), but prosecutors reduced it to first-degree manslaughter when he was arraigned Thursday (October 22), according to CBS News.
He posted $1 million bail on October 23 and remains out of custody despite the new indictment.
The grand jury’s indictment upgrades the charge to second-degree murder following an investigation into Irvine’s death.
Romero, who retired from the NYPD in 2001, is scheduled to be arraigned on the indictment on November 23, according to FOX 5 New York.
Irvine’s family is calling for Romero’s bail to be revoked following the indictment.
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