Execution Report: Willie Shannon

Continued from Page 1

A jury convicted Shannon of capital murder in November 1993 and sentenced him to death. The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals affirmed the conviction and sentence in December 1996. All of his subsequent appeals in state and federal court were denied.

"I did not intentionally shoot this man," Shannon said in an interview from death row the week before his execution. He said that he thought Garza wouldn't likely fight him over the car. On the contrary, Garza became angry and shouted, "You young punk, you just want my car?" Shannon said they struggled, and the gun went off. "I never saw him hit the ground. I didn't even know where he was hit," Shannon said. "I'm no killer. I made a mistake."

"I'm willing to accept my punishment for the crime," Shannon said, but he stated that he should have only been convicted of involuntary manslaughter. "There was justice in my being convicted, but the death penalty is revenge. It's overboard."

As Solia Garza and her children entered a viewing room to witness Shannon's execution, the condemned man smiled at them and hummed. "Don't take my smile for disrespect," Shannon told the family. "I'm happy. I'm going home to Heaven." Shannon said that he would ask his victim for forgiveness if he sees him.

"I took a father from his family," Shannon continued. "It wasn't my fault. It was an accident." After Shannon expressed love to his mother and friends, who were also in attendance, the lethal injection was started. He was pronounced dead at 6:24 p.m.

By David Carson. Posted on 9 November 2006.
Sources: Texas Department of Criminal Justice, Texas Attorney General's office, Houston Chronicle, Huntsville Item.