A Michigan man has been sentenced to at least 30 years in prison for killing his 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, whom he ran over with a sports utility vehicle during an argument on 30 August 2024.
Taylor, 29, was severely injured and later pronounced dead at a local hospital. Genesee County prosecutor David Leyton told 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.” Shirah pleaded no contest in April to three felony charges: second-degree murder, operating with a suspended license causing death, and failure to stop at the scene of an accident resulting in death.
According to Michigan news outlet MLive, an emotional Shirah told the court: “The only thing I can do for the rest of my life is express my apology and remorse … I will forever be sorry.” He said killing Taylor “was not intentional” and that he accepted “full responsibility” for his actions. Judge Khary Hanible responded: “Mr Shirah, I believe that you are not a criminal. You are, however, a killer.”
The killing occurred hours after Shirah’s wedding to Savanah Collier, with celebrations held at Flint Pizzeria and then at a house. Police said the incident stemmed from an argument between the newlyweds and Taylor after the festivities. According to testimony, Shirah had been drinking throughout the day and left the argument for about a minute before returning and hitting Taylor at high speed, sending him flying through the air. The newlyweds left the scene and did not report it to police until the next day, making it “more difficult” for investigators, Leyton said.
At the sentencing, Taylor’s cousin Eren Taylor delivered a victim impact statement, saying: “When I got to him all I could see was blood.” She addressed Shirah directly: “I hope that they throw the book at you.” Terry Taylor Jr is survived by his four children and his fiancée. Shirah’s wife, Savanah Collier, 23, is tentatively scheduled to be sentenced on 26 May for serving as an accessory to the crime, after pleading no contest in April.
