A Michigan man has been ordered to spend at least 30 years in prison for 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., whom he ran over with a sport-utility vehicle during an argument on August 30, 2024.
Taylor, 29, was severely injured after being struck and was later pronounced dead at a local hospital. The county prosecutor 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.”
After pleading no contest in April, Shirah was sentenced on 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.
The Michigan news outlet MLive reported that 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 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 Flint hours after Shirah’s wedding to Savanah Collier. The celebrations were held at Flint Pizzeria and then continued at a house. Police said the incident 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 the subject of the argument.
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 was outside the house hosting the afterparty when Shirah struck him. The newlyweds then left the scene and did not report the incident to police until the next day, Genesee County prosecutor David Leyton said at the time, making it “more difficult” for investigators “to unravel what happened.”
Relatives of both men were present at the sentencing. 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: “I hope that they throw the book at you.”
Terry Taylor Jr. is survived by his four children and his fiancée. Shirah’s wife is tentatively scheduled to be sentenced on May 26 for serving as an accessory to the crime. Collier, 23, pleaded no contest in April.
