Koran Irvine's family, friends and union siblings remember a loving father

Koran Irvine was driving home from a 12-hour shift at a Con Edison plant when he was shot dead on the George Washington Bridge by a retired NYPD detective, prosecutors say. After the vehicles of the unionized utility worker and Victor Romero almost collided in the early evening of Oct. 20, according to prosecutors, Romero pulled up to Irvine and fired into his vehicle through the rear passenger window before speeding away.  

The family of Irvine, 46, a father of two, and his union siblings at Con Ed were distraught at the violent loss of a man they said was incredibly kind and a dedicated friend. Irate that Romero, 67, was charged with first-degree manslaughter instead of murder dozens of his Irvine's Con Ed colleagues gathered outside of Romero's first court appearance on Oct. 27 to catch a glimpse of the alleged shooter at his first public appearance since the road rage incident in a show of support and force. 

Romero posted his $1 million bond, but later in the day a grand jury indicted him on a second-degree murder charge, an upgrade from the initial manslaughter charge that was welcomed by Irvine's family, friends and coworkers who gathered with local activists in Foley Square the evening following Romero's court appearance.  

"It could've been anybody. But it just happened to be my big brother," Irvine's younger sister, Zeria Irvine, told the assembled crowd alongside Irvine's wife, close friends and other family members. "I see my family crying. I see them weeping and I can't formulate tears anymore because I have no more tears to give." 

Irvine was a member of Utility Workers of America Local 1-2, a union representing employees at Con Edison. The local's president, Frank Morales, said Irvines death was a "tragedy."

Harper Freeman/ The Chief

'There's justice here'

Irvine was remembered by his coworkers and union siblings as a hard, dedicated worker who brought a smile to everyone's face. He was a member of Utility Workers of America Local 1-2, whose leadership and lawyers pledged to support the family throughout the justice process.   

Frank Morales, the local's president, told The Chief at the Oct. 27 ceremony that Irvine's death was a "tragedy," but that he was moved by how many people had come out to remember Irvine and support his family.  

"This should be inspiring to everybody," he said. "This is telling everyone that you do not have to take what somebody gives you. There's justice here and unfortunately sometimes you have to fight for it, but this should inspire the world do not accept what people give you."  

Legal representatives for Romero could not be reached for comment. He is set to be arraigned on the murder charge Nov. 23.

According to FOX 5, Romero retired from the NYPD in 2001 after working as a narcotics detective in Brooklyn. A source with the Detectives' Endowment Association, the union representing the NYPD detectives, said the union was not involved in the case of its former member.

Keith White, a lawyer for Irvine's family, said at the rally that New Yorkers "cannot normalize these types of murders," and credited the pressure that the family and union put on the city.

"The way that the union showed up, the way that the family is showing up, that charge of manslaughter was upgraded to an indictment of second-degree murder," he said of Romero. "We're not content. ... Now he needs to be remanded. He needs to be inside of a prison."

Koran Irvine was remembered as a dedicated friend and father by his family, union siblings and activists who gathered to support him on Oct. 27.

Harper Freeman/ The Chief