A man from Michigan has been ordered to spend at least 30 years imprisoned after killing his own groomsman on his wedding day.
James Shirah, 24, from Flint, was sentenced on Monday in Genesee county court for the death of his best friend, Terry Taylor Jr, who he ran over with a sport-utility vehicle during an argument on 30 August 2024.
Taylor, 29, was severely injured after being struck and was later pronounced dead at a local hospital, prompting the county prosecutor to tell CBS News: “I’ve never seen anything quite like this. I’ve seen people running over other people but not so soon after a wedding.”
After pleading no contest in April, Shirah was sentenced in connection with three felony charges: second-degree murder, operating with a suspended license, causing death and failure to stop at a scene of an accident when at fault, resulting in death.
The Michigan news outlet MLive reported that an emotional Shirah told the court at his sentencing: “The only thing I can do for the rest of my life is express my apology and remorse … I will forever be sorry.”
He also said killing Taylor “was not intentional” and that he accepted “full responsibility” for his actions.
“Mr Shirah, I believe that you are not a criminal,” judge Khary Hanible said. “You are, however, a killer.”
Taylor’s killing occurred in the community of Flint hours after Shirah’s wedding to Savanah Collier. The celebrations were held at Flint Pizzeria and then continued at a house.
Police said Taylor’s killing stemmed from an argument between the newlyweds and the groomsman after the festivities at the pizzeria.
“After the wedding, [Taylor] was involved in an argument, which led to him being intentionally struck by a large SUV that was traveling at a high rate of speed,” police said.
They did not disclose what the argument had been over.
According to testimony, Shirah had been drinking throughout the day and left his argument with Taylor for about a minute before returning and hitting him. The crash sent Taylor flying through the air, MLive reported.
Taylor had been outside the house hosting the afterparty when Shirah struck him with his SUV. The newlyweds then reportedly left the scene and did not report it to police until the next day, Genesee county prosecutor David Leyton told CBS at the time.
That decision made it “more difficult” for investigators “to unravel what happened”, Leyton said.
Relatives of Shirah and Taylor were present at the sentencing hearing. Eren Taylor, a cousin of Terry Taylor Jr, delivered a victim impact statement, saying: “When I got to him all I could see was blood.”
She then addressed Shirah directly, saying: “I hope that they throw the book at you.”
Terry Taylor Jr is survived by his four children and his fiancee.
Shirah’s bride is tentatively scheduled to be sentenced on 26 May for serving as an accessory to the crime. Collier, 23, pleaded no contest in April.
