In a shocking turn of events, a newly married couple from Michigan was arrested just hours after their wedding, as the groom allegedly used his SUV to intentionally run over and kill one of his groomsmen. The tragic incident took place on August 30, according to local police in Flint.
The groom, 22-year-old James Shirah, is accused of fatally striking his groomsman, 29-year-old Terry Taylor Jr., following an argument after the wedding. Flint police reported that Shirah hit Taylor with an SUV traveling at a high speed, resulting in severe injuries that ultimately led to Taylor’s death at a local hospital.
“After the wedding, he 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 and driven by the groom,” the Flint Police Department stated on Facebook. The nature of the argument between Shirah and Taylor remains unclear, and police have not disclosed what caused the altercation to escalate to such a violent outcome.
David Leyton, the Genesee County prosecutor, expressed disbelief over the tragic incident. “I’ve never seen anything quite like this,” Leyton told CBS News. “I’ve seen people running over other people, but not so soon after a wedding.”
The couple had reportedly held their wedding reception at a local pizzeria before continuing the celebration at a house. It was outside this house where the after-party was held that the altercation occurred. According to reports, Taylor was standing outside when Shirah allegedly struck him with the vehicle, leading to his fatal injuries.
In a further twist, the newlyweds left the scene and failed to report the incident to the police until the following day. Leyton noted that this delay in reporting made it “more difficult” for investigators to piece together the events that led to Taylor’s death.
Shirah was subsequently arrested and charged with second-degree murder, while his bride, 21-year-old Savahna Collier, was also taken into custody. Collier faces charges of being an accessory after the fact to a felony, suggesting that she may have been involved in the attempt to cover up the crime.
Both Shirah and Collier are expected to appear in court this week as investigators continue to unravel the details of what led to this tragic and unexpected event on what should have been a day of celebration.