Mother Demands US Police Reopen Case After Daughter Shot Dead by Father in Texas
Jane Coates, a grieving mother from Warrington, Cheshire, is urging US detectives to reopen the investigation into the death of her daughter, Lucy Harrison, who was shot and killed by her father in Texas. Lucy, a 23-year-old British graduate, died on January 10, 2025, during a visit to her father Kris Harrison's home in Prosper, Texas, after a dispute about Donald Trump.
Details of the Tragic Incident
Lucy Harrison was visiting her father with her boyfriend, Sam Littler, when an argument erupted on the morning they were due to fly back to the UK. The disagreement centered on US President Donald Trump, who was about to be inaugurated. According to testimony at the Cheshire Coroner's Court, Lucy became upset and ran upstairs after her father made insensitive remarks.
Sam Littler recounted that Harrison then took Lucy by the hand to his bedroom, where a loud bang was heard 15 seconds later. "I initially thought it was a joke, until I heard Harrison scream for his wife," Littler said. He found Lucy on the floor, with Harrison screaming incoherently and urging someone to call 911.
Coroner's Findings and Police Response
In a statement to the inquest, Kris Harrison claimed he was showing Lucy his Glock 9mm semi-automatic handgun, kept for security, when it accidentally discharged. He stated he could not remember if his finger was on the trigger. However, Jacqueline Devonish, Cheshire's senior coroner, ruled last month that Lucy was unlawfully killed, describing Harrison's actions as reckless.
The coroner noted that shooting Lucy through the chest while she was standing would have required pointing the gun at her without checking for bullets and pulling the trigger. Despite an officer smelling alcohol on Harrison's breath at the scene, police failed to conduct a breathalyser test. Harrison later admitted to drinking on the morning of the incident in statements to the coroner.
Calls for a New Investigation
Jane Coates, 49, believes police did not properly examine evidence of recklessness and alcohol influence. "We will never know actually how much Kris drank that morning ... and I just think that's not good enough," she said. She hopes the coroner's findings will prompt US authorities to launch a fresh investigation into potential criminally negligent homicide.
Harrison was investigated for suspected manslaughter, but a grand jury in Collin County declined to indict him, and he was never arrested. Police initially deemed the shooting an accident within a day. Harrison, 52, is understood to still be living in the home where the incident occurred.
Remembering Lucy Harrison
Lucy Harrison, who worked for Boohoo and held a first-class degree in fashion buying and merchandising, is remembered by her mother for her vibrant personality. "To know Lucy you had to have heard her deep 'Barbara Windsor' belly laughs," Jane Coates said. "She was absolutely not afraid to feel and she felt a myriad of emotions, sometimes within five minutes."
On the day she died, Lucy had been texting her mother about her travel plans. Jane sent a final message offering to pick her up from the airport, but Lucy never read it. An autopsy report confirmed the bullet struck Lucy with a downward trajectory, supporting the coroner's conclusion of recklessness.
The Prosper Police Department stated it conducted a thorough investigation and declined to comment further. Harrison did not respond to requests for comment from the Sunday Times. Jane Coates continues to advocate for justice, emphasizing the need for accountability in her daughter's death.
