A Michigan man has been sentenced to at least 30 years in prison for turning his wedding day into a homicide scene, proving that sometimes 'something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue' includes a felony conviction.
James Shirah, 24, of Flint, was sentenced Monday in Genesee County court for the death of his best friend and groomsman, Terry Taylor Jr., whom he ran over with a sport-utility vehicle during an argument on August 30, 2024. The prosecution noted that vehicular homicide so soon after a wedding is, statistically speaking, not a typical marital hiccup.
Taylor, 29, was struck 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." A new category for the wedding planner's checklist, presumably.
After pleading no contest in April, Shirah faced three felony charges: second-degree murder, operating with a suspended license causing death, and failure to stop at an accident scene resulting in death. Judge Khary Hanible delivered a line that will likely haunt Shirah more than any toast: "Mr. Shirah, I believe that you are not a criminal. You are, however, a killer."
The killing occurred in Flint hours after Shirah's wedding to Savanah Collier at Flint Pizzeria, with the afterparty at a house. Police said the incident stemmed from an argument between the newlyweds and the groomsman - the specifics of which remain a mystery, though one suspects it was not about the wedding cake flavor.
According to testimony, Shirah had been drinking throughout the day, left his argument with Taylor for about a minute, then returned and struck him with his SUV at high speed. The crash sent Taylor flying through the air. The newlyweds then left the scene and didn't report it until the next day, a delay that made it "more difficult" for investigators "to unravel what happened," Leyton said.
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 added the killing "was not intentional" and that he accepted "full responsibility" - a combo that seems to confuse accountability with regret.
Taylor's cousin, Eren Taylor, 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." They did: 30 years' worth.
Taylor is survived by his four children and fiancée. Shirah's bride, Collier, 23, is tentatively scheduled to be sentenced on May 26 for serving as an accessory to the crime after also pleading no contest in April. So much for 'till death do us part.'