A Michigan wedding that was meant to mark the beginning of a new life instead ended in tragedy, courtroom testimony revealed, after a groom fatally struck his own groomsman during an argument just hours after exchanging vows.

James Shirah, 24, of Flint, was sentenced on Monday in Genesee County Circuit Court to a minimum of 30 years in prison for the death of his close friend, Terry Taylor Jr., 29, whom he ran over with a sport-utility vehicle following a dispute on 30 August 2024. The case has shocked the local community, not only because of the violence involved, but because it unfolded on the same day Shirah was celebrating his wedding.

Taylor suffered catastrophic injuries after being struck and was later pronounced dead at a nearby hospital. Prosecutors described the case as one of the most disturbing they had handled, with Genesee County Prosecutor David Leyton telling 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 previously pleaded no contest in April to multiple felony charges, including second-degree murder, driving with a suspended license causing death, and failure to stop at the scene of an accident resulting in death. The plea avoided a trial but left sentencing in the hands of the court.

On Monday, an emotional Shirah addressed the court before sentencing, expressing remorse for his actions while insisting the killing was not planned.

“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, according to reporting from Michigan outlet MLive. He also stated that he accepted “full responsibility” for what occurred, while maintaining that the incident was not intentional.

Judge Khary Hanible acknowledged Shirah’s statement but made a stark distinction between remorse and accountability.

“Mr Shirah, I believe that you are not a criminal,” the judge said in court. “You are, however, a killer.”

The court heard that the fatal incident unfolded in Flint on the same day Shirah had married his wife, Savanah Collier. The wedding celebrations began at a local pizzeria before continuing at a private residence, where friends and family gathered to continue the festivities.

According to prosecutors, the atmosphere shifted later in the evening when an argument broke out involving Taylor and members of the newly married couple. The exact cause of the dispute was not disclosed in court records, but authorities said tensions escalated quickly after the reception.

Police stated that the confrontation occurred outside the home where the afterparty was being held. During the argument, Taylor was allegedly struck by Shirah’s SUV as it accelerated at a high rate of speed.

“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,” investigators said in their report.

Witness testimony presented during proceedings indicated that Shirah had been drinking throughout the day. At one point during the altercation, he reportedly left the scene for approximately one minute before returning in his vehicle. It was at that moment, prosecutors said, that he drove into Taylor, sending him airborne upon impact.

MLive reported that the force of the collision threw Taylor several feet, leaving him with fatal injuries.

Emergency services were called, but Taylor was pronounced dead after being transported to a local hospital. The sudden escalation from wedding celebration to fatal violence left attendees in shock, many struggling to comprehend what had just occurred.

Prosecutors further told the court that Shirah and his wife did not immediately contact law enforcement after the incident. Instead, they left the scene and only reported the crash the following day, a delay that authorities say complicated the initial investigation.

Genesee County Prosecutor David Leyton said that the delay created significant challenges for investigators attempting to reconstruct the sequence of events.

“That decision made it more difficult for investigators to unravel what happened,” Leyton said.

Relatives of both the victim and the defendant attended Monday’s sentencing hearing, filling the courtroom with emotional testimony and visible grief. Among those who spoke was Eren Taylor, a cousin of the victim, who described the devastating moment she arrived at the scene.

“When I got to him all I could see was blood,” she told the court.

Turning toward Shirah directly, she added, “I hope that they throw the book at you.”

The impact statement reflected the deep pain felt by Taylor’s family, who described him as a devoted father and loving partner. Taylor is survived by his fiancée and four children, who now face life without him.

Friends and relatives described him as someone who had been present throughout Shirah’s life, making the circumstances of his death even more difficult to accept.

Court records indicate that the relationship between Shirah and Taylor had been longstanding, with Taylor serving as a groomsman in Shirah’s wedding earlier that same day. What began as a celebration of friendship and commitment ultimately ended in irreversible tragedy.

Judge Hanible, in delivering the sentence, emphasized both the seriousness of the offense and the lasting consequences of Shirah’s actions.

The court imposed a minimum sentence of 30 years, reflecting the severity of the second-degree murder conviction and associated charges. Shirah will not be eligible for parole until he has served the minimum term.

In addition to Shirah’s sentencing, legal proceedings are expected to continue for his wife, Savanah Collier, who has been charged as an accessory after the fact. She previously pleaded no contest in April and is scheduled to be sentenced on 26 May.

Authorities have not publicly detailed the extent of her alleged involvement, but prosecutors indicated that her actions following the incident are part of ongoing legal consideration.

As the case concludes for Shirah, the broader emotional toll remains evident. A wedding that should have symbolized a new beginning instead became the backdrop for a fatal confrontation that ended a life and fractured multiple families.

For Taylor’s loved ones, the courtroom proceedings offered some measure of accountability, but little comfort in the face of permanent loss.

As one family member expressed through tears, the memory of that night is now defined not by celebration, but by violence and grief that will not fade with the sentencing.