A retired NYPD detective was arrested Wednesday in the fatal shooting of a father of two during rush-hour traffic on the George Washington Bridge.
The suspect, who left the force roughly 25 years ago, was taken into custody less than 24 hours after Koran Irvine, 46, was gunned down around 7:15 p.m. Tuesday on the New Jersey-bound upper level of the crossing, according to sources. The Valley Cottage, Rockland County resident was pronounced dead at Englewood Hospital after a single bullet pierced his vehicle and struck him in the right shoulder.
Investigators reviewed footage showing Irvine’s car suddenly jerking at the moment another motorist pulled up on the rear passenger side, sources said. The shooter’s vehicle then drove off as Irvine’s ride rolled into the median and came to a stop.
The bullet traveled through the back window, grazed a head rest, entered Irvine’s right shoulder and exited the left side of his neck, sources said. Police had not publicly identified the retired detective by late Wednesday afternoon as he awaited formal charges.
Irvine left behind a son, a daughter and a wife he doted on, according to loved ones. A cousin who spoke to The Post described him as devoted entirely to his household and notably free of trouble.
“He’s a family man. Has always been a family man, and he lived his life 100% for his family, stayed out of trouble. And I am in disbelief at this point in time,” the cousin said. “He was a man that lived for his family 100%, the only thing that he loved near and dear to his heart as much as his family was the Jets.”
The same relative recalled Irvine as a constant source of humor who worked to lift others’ spirits.
“He is always the light of the party,” the cousin added. “He had so much life, was very attentive to everyone, always wanted to know people’s needs. He was so inviting.”
Another family member told The Post that Irvine “just always wanted to make people laugh and feel good.”
The Tuesday evening violence unfolded during peak commuting hours on one of the nation’s busiest spans, which connects upper Manhattan to Fort Lee, New Jersey. The shooting followed what investigators believe was a road-rage confrontation between the two drivers, though police have not detailed what may have preceded the gunfire.
The retired detective’s arrest came swiftly, with sources indicating investigators were able to track the suspect through evidence gathered at the scene and the bridge’s surveillance systems. The crossing handles more than 100 million vehicles annually and is monitored by an extensive network of cameras operated by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.
Irvine’s killing marked the second high-profile slaying of a current or former New York police officer in the region within days, following the fatal stabbing of a retired NYPD cop on Staten Island allegedly by a neighbor.
The suspect in the bridge shooting remained in custody Wednesday evening as prosecutors prepared charges.