Victor Romero, a retired NYPD detective, has been charged with murder in the fatal shooting of a Con Edison worker during an apparent road-rage clash on the George Washington Bridge, according to The Associated Press, via WRAL and other outlets citing police.
Police said Romero, 62, of Haverstraw, New York, was identified as the driver of a black Range Rover linked to the shooting on the New Jersey-bound upper level of the bridge around 7:10 p.m. Tuesday. The New York Daily News reported that detectives had video showing the vehicle involved in the killing and that Romero was charged Wednesday. NBC New York said the NYPD identified the suspect as Victor Romero and said he had been retired for 25 years.
The victim was identified as 46-year-old Koran Irvine of Valley Cottage, New York, according to the AP and local television reports. News 12 Long Island reported that Irvine was driving on the outbound upper level of the span when he was shot, and that police believed the shooting may have stemmed from an apparent road-rage incident.
Authorities initially responded to what was reported as a crash, but investigators later found Irvine with a gunshot wound inside his vehicle, according to the reports. Con Edison said in a statement cited by multiple outlets that it was heartbroken by the loss of a member of its workforce and extended condolences to Irvine’s family and colleagues.
The investigation remained active Wednesday, with police still reviewing evidence and working to piece together the shooting sequence on one of the region’s busiest crossings. Officials had not immediately said whether Romero had entered a plea or whether a lawyer for him was available for comment.