A couple of newlyweds had their honeymoon phase cut short after they were charged in connection with a deadly car collision.
Local law enforcement in Michigan announced on Wednesday September 4 that 22-year-old James Shirah and his new wife, 21-year-old Savahna Collier, had been arrested and charged on suspicion of intentionally running over one of the groomsmen in their wedding.
29-year-old Terry Lewis Taylor was found seriously injured around eight o’clock the night of the wedding on Friday August 30. Police located him after they received reports that he had been struck by a car. Later, authorities found out that Taylor had been one of Shirah’s groomsmen at his wedding, which took place at a pizzeria earlier that day.
The late groomsman was reportedly in an argument with the groom before Shirah purposely ran into Taylor, driving an SUV at a high speed, ultimately killing him. The Flint Police Department (FPD) revealed the details about the incident, which is still being investigated.
According to David Leyton, the prosecutor for Genesee County, the wedding was held at a pizzeria with a reception to follow at a private home. It was at this point in the celebration that the argument began, ending in Shirah driving a car into Taylor in front of the house. The newlyweds reportedly left the scene and did not contact authorities until a day later, which led to challenges in sorting through the case right away.
Shirah has been charged with second-degree murder and is currently being held in jail without bond. His bride is facing charges of being an accessory after the fact to a felony. She is being held on a bond of $4,000.
The story attracted much attention on social media, where one user accused the same couple of having caused reckless damage to a family member’s car during an August 17 bachelor party. Shirah reportedly promised to pay for necessary repairs. But another user suggested that the two newlyweds had been threatened at gunpoint, leading to the groomsman’s death.
Another comment about the story stated that “no argument is worth” taking the life of another person and lamented that “someone” had not “raise[d] those two right.”
