A Michigan groom will spend at least 30 years behind bars after running over and killing his best friend following an alcohol-fueled argument at his wedding.

James Shirah, 24, of Flint, was arrested after striking his best man, 29-year-old Terry Lewis Taylor Jr, with his SUV.

While the newlywed’s attorney argued the crash was unintentional, prosecutors alleged that Shirah left the scene before returning and deliberately striking Taylor. 

'When I got to him all I could see was blood,' Eren Taylor, Taylor's cousin, said during her victim impact statement in court, according to MLive. 'I hope they throw the book at you.'

Genesee County Circuit Court Judge Khary L Hanible handed down a sentence of at least three decades in prison, along with $334 in fines and court costs on Monday.

'Mr Shirah, I believe that you are not a criminal. You are, however, a killer,' the judge said.

Shirah was sentenced to 30 to 45 years for second-degree murder - a charge reduced from open murder - along with 10 to 15 years each for leaving the scene of a fatal accident and driving on a suspended, revoked or denied license. 

Each of his sentences will run concurrently and he was credited for the 618 days he has already served in jail.

After learning his fate, Shirah tearfully 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. 

'It was not intentional,' he added. 'That was my best friend. I accept full responsibility for my actions that night.'

The killing unfolded on August 30, 2024, when Shirah exchanged vows with his bride, 23-year-old Savanah Collier, and later celebrated with an afterparty at a pizzeria in Flint.

The group later continued the festivities at a home in the 1400 block of East Hamilton Avenue, where Taylor got into an argument with Shirah after an altercation with his girlfriend, according to WNEM News. 

Shirah, who court documents state had been drinking throughout the day, then walked away from the dispute with his longtime friend and left the area.

Just a minute later, however, he got behind the wheel of his SUV and allegedly struck Taylor, catapulting him into the air, according to MLive.

'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.

Chilling surveillance captured the entire incident, allegedly showing Shirah and Taylor arguing in an alley - the reason for which remains unclear - before the groom left in his car and returned seconds later. 

The vehicle was then seen allegedly angling toward Taylor and accelerating as he attempted to run away. He later died at the hospital. 

'His chest was cut open where mine and my two sons’ names were,' his cousin Eren later told the court.

After hitting Taylor, Shirah allegedly fled the scene and refused to speak with police until the following day, according to Court TV.

Shirah previously pleaded no contest in April as part of a plea deal and appeared in court Monday for his sentencing hearing.

His lawyer, Harrell Milhouse, asked the judge for a downward departure at sentencing and maintained that the fatal crash was an alcohol-fueled accident.

'There was a fight, an argument, with alcohol involved. This is a situation where you have friends - lifelong friends, best friends - and things get out of control,' Milhouse said.

'What happened was clearly an accident,' he added.

Judge Hanible immediately pushed back, declaring, 'There was nothing accidental about what took place.'

While Shirah attempted to convince the judge that he is not a killer and that the charges do not define him as a 'man,' the judge reiterated his position that Shirah took a life, making him, by definition, a killer. 

'The fact that there is a person who is no longer here means you are a killer,' he said. 'You killed someone.'

Prosecutors also pointed to the violent footage and argued that Shirah had time to reflect on what he was going to do before pressing the gas, as he briefly removed himself from the argument beforehand. 

During the hearing, apologizing to Taylor's family in tears, Shirah said: 'It can look like anything it wants to but I know what truly happened that night was not intentional. That was my best friend.'

Meanwhile, his bride, Collier, pleaded guilty to one count of accessory after the fact, according to ABC12 News.

She may seek sentencing under the Holmes Youthful Trainee Act on May 26. If Judge Hanible approves the request and Collier completes probation, her charge will be dismissed, as reported by the outlet.

Nikki Robinson, Taylor’s pregnant fiancée and mother of his three children, launched a GoFundMe page to help with funeral expenses, describing him as an 'amazing person' and calling his death 'completely unexpected.'

As of Tuesday morning, the fundraiser had amassed $3,150 toward its $5,000 goal.

In a statement on Facebook following the sentencing, Robinson wrote: 'I'm glad James is going to rot for the next however many years.'

'I'm relieved we don't have to go through a trial and relive everything all over again....I see it enough in my mind and in my dreams still,' she added. 'Let me tell you a pain like that, a trauma so severe, it stays with you - you never fully heal from it.'

'I'm just trying to be as happy and normal as I possibly can for my child....he deserves that much after having his father taken from him before he was even born.'