The UK government is facing calls to push a Texas police department to reopen an investigation into the fatal shooting of British woman, Lucy Harrison, by her father in Texas.
Lucy Harrison, a 23-year-old from Warrington, Cheshire, was visiting her father, Kris, in Prosper, near Dallas, when she was tragically shot on January 10, 2025. The incident occurred less than two weeks after her arrival on December 28, 2024, just before she and her boyfriend were set to return home.
Although no criminal charges were brought against Kris by the police, the Senior coroner for Cheshire, Jaqueline Devonish, determined that Kris’ actions constituted unlawful killing through gross negligence manslaughter during an inquest.
Testimony revealed that Kris had consumed alcohol on the day of the incident and had shown Lucy his gun following an argument about Donald Trump.
During the inquest, it was disclosed that Kris had taken Lucy by the hand into his bedroom shortly before they were supposed to leave for the airport. Moments later, a gunshot was heard, leading to the discovery of Lucy’s body in the downstairs bedroom.
Labour MP Sarah Hall urged the UK government to intervene and prompt US authorities to review the case. The Texas police had initially investigated the death as possible manslaughter, but a grand jury in Collin County chose not to indict Kris.
In a parliamentary debate, MP Sarah Hall emphasized the need for proper support for Lucy’s family, including her mother Jane and boyfriend Sam Littler, from the Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office to navigate the Texas legal system.
She highlighted that the coroner’s findings deemed Kris’ actions on the day of Lucy’s death to be exceptionally negligent and reprehensible, disputing the claim that the gun had accidentally discharged.
MP Sarah Hall urged the government to leverage all available channels to ensure a thorough reconsideration of Lucy’s case in light of the coroner’s conclusions and to advocate for British court findings to be duly recognized.
