A retired NYPD detective has been arrested and charged with murder in the fatal shooting of a Rockland County man on the George Washington Bridge, police officials said Wednesday.

The victim, 46-year-old Koran Irvine of Valley Cottage, was shot Tuesday night on the bridge’s upper level in what the NYPD said appeared to be a road rage incident. Police identified the man charged as Victor Romero, 62, of Haverstraw, who they said retired from the department in 2001 after seven years on the force.

According to the NYPD, investigators located Romero, and he then voluntarily went with police. Officials said the gun and the car were recovered, and that detectives were still searching his home as of Wednesday. Information about his attorney was not immediately available.

The Port Authority said its police responded to reports of a one-vehicle crash on the bridge’s upper level just after 7 p.m. Tuesday. Officers arrived to find Irvine unconscious and unresponsive with a gunshot wound to the back of his right shoulder, the NYPD said. He was taken to Englewood Hospital in New Jersey, where he was pronounced dead. The Port Authority reported no other injuries.

A Con Edison spokesperson confirmed that Irvine had worked for the utility. In a short statement, the company said its employees were “heartbroken” and called the shooting a “senseless act of violence.”

The killing also snarled one of the region’s busiest crossings. Authorities shut down travel lanes to investigate, and at one point the Port Authority reported delays of up to 90 minutes on the upper level heading into New York. The westbound upper level, closed for hours during the investigation, began reopening just after midnight, and all lanes were open again in time for Wednesday morning’s commute.

The case was first reported by Gothamist, whose account was updated as new details emerged. Police have not released further information about what led to the confrontation between the two men, and the charge against Romero is an accusation that has yet to be tested in court.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who was shot on the George Washington Bridge?

Koran Irvine, a 46-year-old Valley Cottage, Rockland County man who worked for Con Edison, was shot on the bridge’s upper level Tuesday night and pronounced dead at Englewood Hospital in New Jersey.

Who has been charged in the GWB road rage killing?

Victor Romero, 62, of Haverstraw, a retired NYPD detective who left the department in 2001, has been arrested and charged with murder. The charge has not yet been tested in court.

What happened during the George Washington Bridge shooting?

Police said the shooting on the upper level around 7 p.m. Tuesday appeared to be a road rage incident, and Irvine was found unconscious with a gunshot wound to the back of his right shoulder. Police have not released details on what led to the confrontation.

Was the gun and car recovered in the GWB shooting case?

Yes, according to the NYPD, the gun and the car were recovered, and Romero voluntarily went with investigators after being located.

How did the GWB shooting affect traffic?

Travel lanes on the upper level were shut down for hours, with delays of up to 90 minutes heading into New York. The westbound upper level began reopening just after midnight, and all lanes were open by Wednesday morning’s commute.

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