Sam Littler, the boyfriend of a young British woman shot dead by her own father while visiting him in the United States, has spoken publicly for the first time after hearing what happened for the "first time" in a UK court.
Details of the Incident
Lucy Harrison, 23, was shot in the chest by her father Kris Harrison while she and Sam were visiting his home in Texas. The couple arrived on December 28, 2024, just days after Christmas. Lucy was fatally shot on January 10, 2025, shortly before they were due to fly home. A grand jury in Texas later declined to indict Kris Harrison, and no criminal charges were brought.
Inquest Findings
An inquest at Cheshire Coroner's Court on February 11 heard that Kris Harrison had taken Lucy by the hand into his bedroom shortly before he was to drive them to the airport. About 15 seconds later, Sam heard a bang, followed by Kris shouting his wife Heather's name. Sam, Heather, her two daughters, and a neighbor ran to the bedroom and found Lucy's body on the floor. The coroner concluded that Lucy was unlawfully killed, noting that Kris had been drinking alcohol secretly and recklessly pointed the gun at Lucy without checking if it was loaded.
Sam Littler's Statement
Sam said the inquest was the first time he heard a clear account of what happened in a formal legal setting. He expressed concerns that the Texas grand jury may not have been given all evidence, such as CCTV footage showing Kris purchasing wine two hours before the shooting and a diagram of the bedroom showing the bullet casing and firearm locations. Sam stated, "I personally struggled to reconcile the physical evidence shown in that diagram with the account that Lucy had been standing beside Kris when the gun was removed from its case."
Sam called emergency services but did not know Lucy had been shot. He explained, "I was trying to explain an emergency without understanding what had actually happened. That confusion, and the delay in understanding the nature of the situation, has stayed with me ever since."
Sam concluded, "Prior to the inquest, I respected the need for confidentiality and chose not to speak publicly. I now feel that it is the right time for me to honour Lucy in the way that feels right to me, and to use my voice to speak about both my experience and the evidence heard during the inquest."
