Mum to travel to US over daughter's shooting death

The mother of a British woman who was unlawfully killed after being shot by her father in Texas is preparing to travel to the US to try to persuade prosecutors to reopen the investigation into her death.

Lucy Harrison, 23, from Warrington, was shot in the chest on 10 January 2025 in Prosper, near Dallas.

Police in the town investigated her death as possible manslaughter but no criminal case was brought against her father Kris Harrison after a grand jury in Collin County declined to indict him.

Lucy Harrison's mother Jane Coates said she hopes to meet the district attorney and call for a fresh investigation. The Collin County District Attorney's Office has been approached for comment.

Harrison, a 23-year-old fashion buyer, was shot by her father at his home in Texas the day before she was due to fly home to the UK.

A grand jury in Collin County later decided there was insufficient evidence to bring criminal charges after Kris Harrison said the Glock handgun discharged accidentally while he was showing it to his daughter.

In February this year, a coroner in England concluded Harrison had been unlawfully killed, finding that her father's actions amounted to gross negligence manslaughter under UK law.

Coates said she had expected the unlawful killing conclusion to become a turning point.

"We had to wait until February 2026 before we felt that we could freely speak about what we felt had happened to Lucy and how let down we felt," she said.

"Receiving the unlawful killing outcome was a day full of complete mixed emotions, but one where finally Lucy's truth and voice has been heard in some capacity.

"But from then it still hasn't moved things forward in terms of my request for a reopening of the investigation in Texas."

Coates said campaigning to reopen the investigation had left her little chance to grieve for her daughter, adding: "I think this second year has been much harder actually than the first".

Coates has now sought the help of Radd Seiger, who previously advised the family of Harry Dunn after the teenager was killed by a US citizen in a road crash in Northamptonshire.

Coates said she and Seiger were planning to travel to Texas in the hope of persuading the Collin County District Attorney's office to reconsider the case in light of the coroner's findings.

"Although I know that it's a completely different jurisdiction, a completely different law, so it's about appealing to them in terms of our real concerns with the US investigation, with the Texas investigation, and that they do agree to reopen Lucy's case and give it new consideration," she said.

Senior coroner Jacqueline Devonish ruled in February that Kris Harrison's conduct had been "reckless".

The inquest heard he had been drinking wine before removing a loaded Glock pistol from his bedside cabinet.

The coroner concluded the gun could only have been fired after it was pointed at his daughter, and the trigger pulled, and heard police officers in Texas did not carry out an alcohol test despite smelling alcohol on his breath.

Coates said she had felt "incredibly alone" and "deserted by the British authorities" throughout her campaign for justice for her daughter, and urged the government to give her their full backing.

Seiger said Lucy Harrison's family wanted the case lifted beyond routine consular handling.

Coates said she was not asking the Foreign Office to interfere in the American justice system, but wanted ministers to publicly support her family.

The family have requested a meeting with Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband and other senior officials.

"I think, save Sarah Hall, my MP, who has done everything in her capacity to raise and escalate Lucy's case, it's just felt like there's been doors shut at every single opportunity, and people haven't been there for us," Coates said.

A Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office spokeswoman said: "Our thoughts remain with Jane and her family for the tragic loss they have suffered.

"We were in contact with the family and provided consular support.

"We will always look to learn lessons to improve the consular support we offer to other families in the future."

It is understood Foreign Office officials are reviewing recent correspondence from Lucy Harrison's family and intend to respond.

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