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Retired NYPD detective charged in George Washington Bridge killing out on $1M bail

By

Michael Sol Warren

Published Oct 25, 2026 at 10:25 a.m. ET

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A man was fatally shot while driving on the George Washington Bridge on Oct. 20, 2026.

 

Lokman Vural Elibol/Anadolu via Getty Images

By

Michael Sol Warren

Published Oct 25, 2026 at 10:25 a.m. ET

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The retired NYPD detective accused of shooting and killing another driver on the New York side of the George Washington Bridge last week is now out on bail.

Victor Romero, a 62-year-old from Haverstraw, posted a $1 million bail on Friday, according to city Department of Corrections records.

Romero has been charged with manslaughter for the shooting death of Koran Irvine, a 46-year-old ConEd worker from Valley Cottage in Rockland County, in an incident that authorities have described as a fit of road rage.

Prosecutors at Romero’s arraignment described surveillance camera footage that showed Romero aggressively following Irvine’s vehicle on Oct. 20 after a near crash between the two on the approach to the bridge Tuesday evening. Prosecutors said a few minutes later, Romero fired a gun from the driver’s seat into Irvine’s vehicle, fatally striking Irvine. After the shooting, Romero continued driving into New Jersey.

Romero was initially charged with murder, but prosecutors later downgraded the charge to manslaughter.

Romero was arrested at his workplace in Manhattan on Wednesday. Prosecutors said police seized three guns from Romero, who previously served seven years with the NYPD before retiring from the force in 2001.

Romero’s next court appearance is scheduled for this coming Tuesday.

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new york city

public safety

Michael Sol Warren

Michael Sol Warren covers New Jersey for WNYC and Gothamist, and previously reported on issues around the Garden State for NJ Spotlight News and NJ Advance Media. He can be reached at [email protected].

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