MANHATTAN, N.Y. — A grand jury has upgraded the charge against a retired NYPD detective accused of fatally shooting a Con Edison worker on the George Washington Bridge to second-degree murder, reversing an earlier decision by prosecutors to pursue a lesser manslaughter charge.
Victor Romero, 62, was indicted Tuesday, Oct. 27, in the Oct. 20 killing of Koran Irvine, 46, a married father of two who was driving home to Rockland County when he was shot on the New Jersey-bound upper level of the bridge.
The Manhattan District Attorney's Office confirmed that the grand jury returned a true bill on the murder charge.
Romero's next court appearance is scheduled for Nov. 23, when he is expected to be arraigned in New York Supreme Court.
The indictment follows sharp criticism from Irvine's family and attorneys after prosecutors downgraded the original police murder charge to first-degree manslaughter at Romero's initial court appearance last Thursday.
A Manhattan judge also set bail at $1 million, allowing the former detective to be released while the case proceeds.
The family's attorney accused authorities of giving Romero preferential treatment, including allegedly removing his photograph from the internet and conducting a modified perp walk.
Earlier Tuesday, more than 60 Con Edison workers turned out at Manhattan Criminal Court to support Irvine's family and demand accountability for their slain colleague.
"He was a great man, great co-worker, one of the best people we know," fellow electrician Chris Demmerle said.
"Everything I know I learned from that man," he added.
According to investigators, the deadly confrontation began when Romero's Range Rover and Irvine's Volkswagen Golf nearly collided approaching the bridge during the evening commute.
Romero allegedly pulled alongside Irvine's car and fired a single shot through the window, striking Irvine in the right arm. The bullet exited through his neck.
Irvine's vehicle crossed four lanes before striking the center median. Romero allegedly fled onto the Palisades Interstate Parkway toward his home in Haverstraw.
Irvine was transported to Englewood Hospital, where he died.
Investigators used surveillance footage to track the black Range Rover. Although its license plate was registered to a business, police identified Romero as the suspected driver through previous incident reports.
Romero retired from the NYPD in 2001 after serving as a Brooklyn narcotics detective.
A second-degree murder conviction carries a sentence of 15 to 25 years to life in prison, substantially more than the five-to-25-year range for first-degree manslaughter.
