At her sentencing in U.S. District Court in 1995, the presiding judge described Shannon as a terrorist and agreed with prosecutors that she was a threat even from behind bars.
[6] After the murder of an abortion provider in Pensacola in 1993, Shannon wrote at least 25 letters to the perpetrator, calling him a "hero" and "brave soldier" and describing her disillusionment with nonviolence.
[12] On August 19, 1993, Shelley Shannon shot physician George Tiller in both arms, while he was in his car outside his Wichita, Kansas abortion clinic.
[5][6][7] Shannon was a resident of Grants Pass, Oregon,[13] and had been a part of the anti-abortion movement for at least five years at the time she shot Tiller.
[14] While incarcerated in Lansing, Kansas, Shannon signed the Army of God's statement in support of the actions of Paul Jennings Hill, identifying herself as a "prisoner of Christ".
[8] Her daughter, Angela Shannon,[18] was prosecuted for sending a death threat in 1993 to George Woodward, a Milwaukee doctor who performed abortions.
[20] Shannon had been in ongoing contact with controversial anti-abortionist Donald Spitz during her incarceration at Waseca federal prison as well as at the time of her release.