Dozens of Con Edison workers gathered at a New York City courthouse Tuesday as a former NYPD detective faced upgraded charges stemming from the GWB road rage shooting that killed their colleague, according to officials.
Prosecutors said Victor Romero, 62, who had been working as a driver and security guard for a hedge fund, was indicted by a grand jury on second-degree murder in the fatal shooting of Koran Irvine, 46, on the George Washington Bridge last week. Irvine, a 20-year Con Edison employee who is survived by his wife and two children, was shot during an apparent confrontation on the span.
GWB road rage shooting case details
Authorities said the incident followed a near collision as both vehicles headed toward the bridge. Surveillance footage cited by prosecutors allegedly shows Romero tailgating Irvine’s car before pulling alongside and firing at least one round.
Irvine was struck in the shoulder and later died, according to officials. The George Washington Bridge is operated by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, which oversees several major crossings in the region.
Romero was taken into custody after a 24-hour manhunt, police said. He had previously posted $1 million bail and pleaded not guilty to initial first-degree manslaughter charges.
Following the indictment, he appeared in court with his attorney and private security but did not comment publicly. In another recent case involving deadly use of force, the Mississippi AG justified use of force in toddler shooting.
Outside the courthouse, Irvine’s coworkers stood with his family. One Con Edison employee described their bond by saying they were like brothers, local media reported.
Romero is scheduled for a Supreme Court arraignment on Nov. 23. His attorney, Alan Abramson, could not be immediately reached for comment, and the Con Edison website did not list a statement on the case.
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