Lucy Harrison

A coroner’s inquest in England has brought renewed scrutiny to the circumstances surrounding the death of Lucy Harrison, a 23-year-old British woman who was fatally sH๏τ while visiting her father in Prosper, Texas.

Testimony heard this week detailed a family dispute earlier on the day of the shooting and examined the role of alcohol and firearm access inside the home.

Lucy Harrison, originally from Warrington, Cheshire, was sH๏τ in the chest on January 10, 2025, at the residence of her father, Kris Harrison, a British expatriate who has lived in the United States for years.

Local authorities in Texas investigated the incident as a possible manslaughter case, but a Collin County grand jury ultimately declined to bring criminal charges against Kris Harrison.

The inquest, opened at Cheshire Coroner’s Court, included testimony from Lucy Harrison’s boyfriend, Sam Littler, who had traveled with her to the United States for the holiday.

Littler told the court that Lucy and her father had a heated argument earlier that day involving political views related to Donald Trump, who was preparing for his second presidential inauguration later in January 2025.

According to Littler, discussions about firearms often caused tension between Lucy and her father.

Evidence presented to the court indicated that shortly before the fatal incident, Lucy Harrison had become visibly upset following the argument.

Later that afternoon, her father reportedly invited her into his bedroom to show her a firearm he kept there. Moments later, a single gunsH๏τ was heard.

In a written statement submitted to the court, Kris Harrison said he was handling a Glock 9mm semi-automatic handgun when it discharged unexpectedly.

He stated that he could not remember whether his finger was on the trigger at the time.

Harrison also acknowledged that he had consumed alcohol that day after relapsing following a period of sobriety.

Police testimony read into the record by Officer Luciana Escalera noted that alcohol was detected on Harrison’s breath at the scene.

Surveillance footage reviewed during the investigation showed Harrison purchasing two cartons of wine earlier that day from a convenience store in Prosper.

Lucy Harrison was pronounced ᴅᴇᴀᴅ at the scene. She worked as a buyer for fashion company Boohoo and was described by her family as pᴀssionate, outspoken, and deeply compᴀssionate.

Her mother, Jane Coates, told the court that her daughter was “a force of life” who cared intensely about social issues and justice.

Legal arguments during the inquest included an unsuccessful request by Harrison’s attorney, Ana Samuel, for the coroner to step aside due to alleged bias.

The application was opposed by Lois Norris, representing Jane Coates, who emphasized that Kris Harrison was the only person present when the shooting occurred.

Coroner Jacqueline Devonish denied the request and allowed proceedings to continue.

In a statement issued through his legal team, Kris Harrison said he accepted responsibility for his actions and expressed lifelong remorse over his daughter’s death.

The inquest has been adjourned, with the coroner expected to issue formal findings in the coming days.

The case has reignited public debate in the United Kingdom about firearm safety in the United States, particularly when combined with alcohol use and family conflict, as Lucy Harrison’s death continues to resonate with audiences on both sides of the Atlantic.