The former NYPD detective accused of shooting and killing a road rage man on the George Washington Bridge on Tuesday was held on $1 million bail during his arraignment in Manhattan court Thursday.
Judge Kevin McGrath sided with prosecutors in setting bail high for Victor Romero, 62, who police say fatally shot Koran Irvine, 46.
Assistant District Attorney Matt Sears called it a “particularly senseless murder” as he read the facts of the case, describing how surveillance video captured Romero’s car aggressively following Irvine’s vehicle after a near-crash as the two approached the 179th Street Bridge around 7 p.m. Minutes later, he said Romero fired his gun from the driver’s seat, fatally striking Irvine behind his right shoulder. Romero then drove to New Jersey without stopping, Sears said.
Romero, who was charged with manslaughter, downgraded from the original murder charge, remained silent throughout the proceedings. In arguing for the judge to consider a lower bail amount, Romero’s attorney, Alan Abramson, called him a “hero cop” with a “sterling record” who was hit during a shootout in which he prevented others from being hurt.
Abramson said Romero had a wife and four children and most recently worked as a security director.
Prosecutors said Romero was arrested Wednesday at work in Manhattan and detectives recovered a gun from him, which he admitted to having on his person daily. They said police also recovered two other handguns from his home, all of which are being processed for forensic evidence.
Irvine’s relatives were in the courtroom Thursday and spoke to reporters outside after the arraignment.
“My brother is a hero, and he is my hero,” Zeria Irvine, Irvine’s sister, said through tears. “I talked to him every day on that ride.”
The family is investigating a lawsuit against Romero and the security company they believe he worked for. After court, they criticized the special treatment they believe Romero received.
“The judge granted this $1 million bond over our objection,” said Keith White, an attorney representing the Irvine family. “After the degree of danger he showed after taking the risk of fleeing, we believe this is a travesty, a miscarriage of justice.”
A GoFundMe for the husband and father of two had raised more than $175,000 as of Thursday afternoon. Irvine’s employer, utility company Con Edison, issued a statement saying employees were “heartbroken” and called the shooting a “senseless act of violence.”
This has been updated with additional reports.
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