The mother of a young British woman who was fatally shot by her father in the United States following an argument related to former President Donald Trump has criticized the police for allegedly overlooking crucial evidence provided to them.
Lucy Harrison, hailing from Warrington, Cheshire, was tragically killed by her father, Kris, in Texas while discussing political matters. Kris, who was probed for potential manslaughter, claimed that the shooting was accidental as he was demonstrating his firearm to Lucy.
Jane Coates, aged 49, has expressed dissatisfaction with the police’s handling of the case, stating that they failed to thoroughly investigate the recklessness involved in Lucy’s death on January 10, 2025. Despite believing that her ex-husband did not intend to harm their daughter, Jane feels that his actions were negligent, influenced by alcohol.
Lucy, a fashion professional, traveled with her boyfriend to visit her father in late December 2024. In a recent interview, Jane asserted that Lucy had been let down by the authorities, citing physical evidence such as diagrams illustrating the gun’s position, casings, and bloodstains, which contradicted Kris’s version of events.
An autopsy revealed that the bullet had a downward trajectory when it struck Lucy. The coroner from Cheshire deemed the shooting reckless, emphasizing that firing at Lucy’s chest while she was upright would have required carelessness on Kris’s part.
Despite initial investigations categorizing the incident as an accident, a grand jury declined to press charges against Kris. He claimed to have kept a handgun for security purposes and alleged that the shooting occurred unintentionally while he was showing the weapon to Lucy.
Jane, reflecting on the circumstances a year later, expressed frustration over the lack of clarity regarding Kris’s alcohol consumption on the day of the incident. She hopes that the coroner’s determination of Kris’s recklessness under the influence will prompt US authorities to initiate a new inquiry.
