Family of GWB shooting victim blasts "miscarriage of justice" after alleged gunman faces manslaughter charge, granted bail

Victor Romero, a retired NYPD detective accused in a deadly shooting on the George Washington Bridge, appeared in court Thursday to face a manslaughter charge. A judge set $1 million bail. 

While Romero, 62, was arraigned on a first-degree manslaughter charge Thursday, when he was arrested Wednesday, police said he would face a murder charge. 

Police believe Romero shot and killed Koran Irvine, 46, during an apparent road rage incident. 

Romero did not enter a plea in court, nor did he speak. The DA will present the case to a grand jury on October 26. If the grand jury indicts Romero, at that time he will have to enter a plea.   

"A miscarriage of justice"

Irvine's family spoke out for the first time publicly after Romero's court appearance. They were outraged Romero is facing a manslaughter charge, and not murder, and are upset that he also was offered bail instead of remanded into custody.  

"The idea of him being free after this charge, after the degree of danger that he's shown, after being the flight risk that he is, we think it's a travesty. It's a miscarriage of justice," Irvine family attorney Keith White said.

"I am upset. I am hurt, and I am not pleased with this court system, but in God we will trust. Koran was on his way home from work - a hard day's work, and stayed overtime - yet you had a retired police officer intentionally fire the bullet and kill him, and instead of it being murder, it's called manslaughter. But again, in God we will trust," Irvine's aunt Gale Ford said. "My nephew Koran was a devoted husband. He was a proud and present father in his home with his children." 

Ford said "a void was placed in our lives" following Tuesday's shooting. 

"My brother-in-law committed his life to providing for my sister and their two children. I have so many memories of holiday, trips and family gatherings, and so many hopes for the future. But now all I have are memories. His life was taken by an angry criminal with a license to kill. I am devastated. My family is devasted, and we'll never be the same," Irvine's sister-in-law Joana Suazo said. 

Irvine's sister Zeria called said he was her hero, and was astonished that Romero is eligible for bail.

"Not only take my brother's life, he could have had major fatalities after my brother with that crash. And to go home and have dinner that same night my brother was not able to go home and have dinner with his children or his wife? And they say that he's not a flight risk? And we can't take his passport away? He fled the scene and left my brother to die," Zeria Irvine said. 

What happened in court

In court, prosecutors told the judge the incident was a "particularly senseless killing" that was precipitated by a near-collision as Irvine and Romero's vehicles approached the bridge. Video allegedly shows Romero tailgating Irvine closely and aggressively, prosecutors said. They said Romero then pulled up next to Irvine and fired the deadly shot while both were driving. After the shooting, Irvine's vehicle came to an abrupt stop, prosecutors said, while Romero allegedly kept driving across the bridge toward his home. Prosecutors said they've since recovered three guns from Romero, and requested the judge set $1 million bail. 

Romero's defense attorney Alan Abramson told the court the incident is a tragedy, adding his heart goes out to Irvine's family. Abramson said Romero is a hero police officer who was awarded the Combat Cross for being involved in a shootout with would-be robbers at his family's laundromat. Abramson said Romero is married with four children and has been cooperative with police. 

This is a developing story. Check back soon for more information.