The UK government faces calls to push a Texas police department to reopen an inquiry following the fatal shooting of a British woman by her father in Texas.
Lucy Harrison, a 23-year-old from Warrington, Cheshire, was tragically shot in the chest by her father, Kris, while visiting him in Prosper, near Dallas, on January 10, 2025. The incident occurred just days after her arrival with her boyfriend on December 28, 2024, shortly before their scheduled return flight.
Despite the circumstances surrounding her death, Kris did not face criminal charges. The senior coroner for Cheshire, Jaqueline Devonish, ruled Kris’s actions as unlawful killing due to gross negligence manslaughter during the inquest.
Evidence presented in February revealed that Kris had consumed alcohol on the day of the incident. He claimed to have taken Lucy to his room to show her his gun after an argument about Donald Trump.
During the inquest, it was disclosed that Kris had led Lucy into his bedroom shortly before they were to depart for the airport. Moments later, a gunshot was heard, followed by Kris shouting his wife’s name. Lucy was found lifeless on the bedroom floor by her boyfriend, her mother, her two siblings, and a neighbor who was present.
Labour MP Sarah Hall has urged the UK government to request US authorities to reconsider the case. Initial investigations by Texas police into Lucy’s death leaned towards possible manslaughter, but a grand jury in Collin County opted not to indict Kris.
In a parliamentary debate, MP Sarah Hall emphasized the need for proper support from the Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office for Lucy’s family and her boyfriend in navigating the Texas legal system.
The MP highlighted that despite the case being reviewed by a grand jury in Texas, no criminal charges were filed, attributing the incident to a firearm accident.
She stressed the significance of the coroner’s findings and urged the government to push for a reevaluation of Lucy’s case in Texas, ensuring that a British court’s ruling is duly acknowledged.
