Retired NYPD Detective Victor Romero Faces Manslaughter Charge in Coran Irvine Shooting by GWB

NEW YORK (WABC)– The family of a 46-year-old father killed in an apparent road rage shooting on the George Washington Bridge is wondering how the case against the accused shooter is being handled after he was arraigned Thursday on manslaughter charges.

Coran Irvine was killed Tuesday evening on the bridge. Victor Romero was arrested Wednesday on a murder charge, but was arraigned Thursday on a lesser charge of first-degree manslaughter. Romero is a retired NYPD detective.

“They say he’s not a flight risk…we can’t take away his passport. He fled the scene. He left my brother to die,” said Irvine’s sister, Zeria Irvine.

More than a dozen of Irvine’s relatives attended Romero’s court appearance.

“My brother is a hero. He’s my hero. And I talked to him every day on his drive home,” Zeria Irvine said.

Irvine’s aunt, Gale Forde, also questioned the accusations against Romero.

“Koran was coming home from work. A hard day of work and overtime. A retired police officer intentionally shot and killed him. And instead of it being murder, it’s called manslaughter,” Forde said.

The family has retained an attorney due to concerns about developments in the case.

“So, do any of you have a photo of Victor Romero? That’s right. So Victor Romero’s entire identity was scrubbed from the internet before his arrest… Mr. Romero was allowed to go to work the next day, and then he was allowed into a police station to ask questions. That’s preferential treatment. Did you see him taking a criminal ride in there earlier? That was a criminal ride changed, right? He was wearing a nice outfit. He looked very different from any other defendant you’ve seen in this courtroom,” said the family’s attorney, Keith White.

Prosecutors said Irvine and Romero were simultaneously changing lanes as they entered the upper level of the George Washington Bridge just before 7 p.m. They almost collided, but both braked.

Prosecutors said surveillance video shows Romero chasing Irvine in his company’s black Range Rover, tailgating him aggressively, then quickly stopping to Irvine’s right before shooting into his VW Golf and speeding away.

“And come home and have dinner that night, and my brother didn’t get to have dinner with his kids or his wife,” Zeria Irvine said.

Romero retired in 2000, shortly after an off-duty shooting that was still under investigation by the CCRB.

“And he effectively retired, eliminating any future investigation. Now, Mayor Mamdani recently requested proposals in the NYPD retirement policy that would prevent this from happening. Unfortunately, they come too late, because we are now here with a grieving family,” said the family’s attorney, Nick Liakas.

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