Koran Irvine’s family demands answers after retired NYPD detective faces manslaughter instead of murder

Koran Irvine’s family has spoken out after Victor Romero’s arraignment where murder charges were downgraded.

Victor Romero, the retired New York City police detective involved in the fatal shooting of Koran Irvine on the George Washington Bridge in New York City, has now been charged with manslaughter. He was initially arrested for murder in the alleged road rage incident; however, the charges were downgraded after his arraignment on Thursday (Oct. 22). As reported by ABC7, Irvine’s family members were present in the courtroom. In commentary, they questioned the judge’s decision.

“Koran was on his way home from work. Hard day’s work and stay in overtime. You had a retired police officer intentionally fire a bullet and killed him. And instead of it being murder, it’s called manslaughter,” remarked Irvine’s aunt, Gale Forde.

The family has also obtained legal representation who shared more of their growing concerns.

“So do any of you have a picture of Victor Romero? Right. So Victor Romero’s complete identity was scrubbed from the internet prior to him being arrested…Mr. Romero was allowed to go to work the next day, and then he was allowed to come in to a precinct to ask questions. That’s preferential treatment. Did you see him do a perp walk in there just now? That was a modified perp walk, right? He had on a nice outfit. He looked clean cut. He looked very different from every other defendant that you saw in that courtroom before he was arraigned,” family attorney Keith White said.

According to the report, Irvine and Romero were simultaneously changing lanes while entering the George Washington Bridge before they nearly collided. Both drivers hit their brakes in the alleged incident. Prosecutors allege that surveillance video shows Romero going after Irvine in a black Range Rover, aggressively tailgating him before shooting into Irvine’s vehicle and driving away.

Irvine, 46, leaves behind a wife and two children. A GoFundMe established to support his grieving family acknowledges the severe impact of the tragic loss.

“Koran was a man full of life, love, and dedication to the people who meant the most to him,” they shared. “His family was his world, and he worked hard every day to provide for and support his wife, Patricia, and their children, Lea and Hiro. He loved deeply, valued his relationships, and always strived to give his family the best life possible.”