Lucy Harrison, a 23-year-old British woman from Warrington, Cheshire, was shot and killed by her father, Kris Harrison, at his home in Prosper, Texas, on January 10, 2025. The tragic incident, now under the scrutiny of a UK inquest, has revealed a complex web of family tensions, political disagreement, and the ever-present shadow of gun violence in America, according to reports from Sky News, BBC, Latin Times, and the New York Daily News.
Lucy, a fashion buyer for the UK brand Boohoo, had traveled to Texas with her boyfriend, Sam Littler, to visit her father and his new family. Their visit, however, ended in heartbreak after a heated argument about then-U.S. President Donald Trump spiraled into tragedy. Littler testified at Cheshire Coroner’s Court that political discussions often stirred conflict between Lucy and her father, particularly around issues of gun ownership and violence in the United States.
On the morning of Lucy’s death, the conversation between father and daughter became especially charged. Littler recounted, as reported by BBC, that "Kris and Lucy ended up having quite a big argument which led to Lucy running upstairs and being upset." The row centered on Donald Trump, who was preparing for his second presidential inauguration later that month. Lucy, described by her mother as someone who "loved to have debates about things that meant a lot to her," challenged her father on his views, particularly on the topic of sexual assault and gun crime. Littler told the inquest that Lucy asked her father, "How would you feel if I was the girl in that situation and I'd been sexually assaulted?" Kris Harrison’s reply, according to Littler’s testimony, was chilling: he said he had two other daughters living with him and "it would not upset him that much." Lucy, visibly distressed, ran upstairs to compose herself.
Later that day, as the couple prepared to leave for the airport, the atmosphere in the house remained tense. Littler described how, about half an hour before their departure, Lucy was in the kitchen when her father took her by the hand and led her into his ground-floor bedroom. "I remember running into the room and Lucy was lying on the floor near the entrance to the bathroom and Kris was just screaming, just sort of nonsense," Littler told the court, as reported by Sky News and New York Daily News. The sound of a gunshot had rung out roughly 15 seconds after Lucy and her father entered the room.
The details of what happened next have been pieced together through witness statements, police evidence, and Kris Harrison’s own written account. According to BBC, Harrison claimed that he and Lucy had been watching a news segment about gun crime when he mentioned owning a firearm and asked if she wanted to see it. He retrieved a Glock 9mm semi-automatic handgun from his bedside cabinet, and as he lifted the weapon to show Lucy, it discharged. "As I lifted the gun to show her I suddenly heard a loud bang. I did not understand what had happened. Lucy immediately fell," Harrison wrote in his statement to the court. He added that he could not recall whether his finger was on the trigger at the time of the shooting.
Critical to the case is the context of Kris Harrison’s alcohol use. He acknowledged a long history of addiction and admitted to relapsing on the day of the shooting, consuming approximately 500 milliliters of white wine. Police officer Luciana Escalera, whose evidence was read at the inquest, noted the smell of alcohol on Harrison’s breath at the scene. CCTV footage confirmed that Harrison had purchased two 500ml cartons of Chardonnay from a local 7-Eleven store earlier that day. Harrison stated in court documents that he was "emotional about her leaving" and that this contributed to his lapse.
Despite the circumstances, Texas authorities did not pursue criminal charges. The Collin County District Attorney’s Office presented the case to a grand jury, which ultimately declined to indict Kris Harrison for manslaughter or criminally negligent homicide, citing insufficient evidence. This decision frustrated Lucy’s family and prompted the UK inquest to seek further clarity and accountability.
The inquest itself has not been without controversy. Ana Samuel, representing Kris Harrison, argued that the process had taken on the character of a criminal investigation rather than a fact-finding inquiry. She applied for coroner Jacqueline Devonish to recuse herself, suggesting a "real possibility she was biased." The application was dismissed by the coroner, who continued to preside over the case. Lois Norris, representing Lucy’s mother Jane Coates, countered that Kris Harrison was "the person in the room who shot Ms Harrison" and the only one present when the fatal shot was fired.
Lucy’s mother, Jane Coates, paid tribute to her daughter, describing her as a "real force of life" who "cared deeply about the world around her and was unafraid to debate issues that mattered to her." Lucy’s passion for social and political causes was echoed by those who knew her, with her mother recalling, "She cared. She was passionate about things. She loved to have debates about things that meant a lot to her." Her career as a buyer for Boohoo was a testament to her drive and independence.
For his part, Kris Harrison expressed deep remorse in a statement issued through his solicitors: "I fully accept the consequences of my actions, and there isn’t a day I don’t feel the weight of that loss – a weight I will carry for the rest of my life, and I know that nothing I say can ease the heartbreak this tragedy has caused. I cannot undo what happened, but I can honour Lucy by being the best father I can be to her sisters and by carrying her memory forward in everything we do. I am deeply sorry for the pain others feel from this tragedy. Lucy’s spirit – her warmth, her humour, her kindness – will live on in all of us who loved her."
The inquest, which began in February 2026, was adjourned until February 11, 2026, with the coroner expected to deliver her conclusions. The case has highlighted not only the personal devastation wrought by a single act of gun violence but also the wider cultural and legal divides between the UK and the US on issues of guns, accountability, and family tragedy. As the Harrison family awaits the coroner’s verdict, Lucy’s memory endures as a testament to a young woman’s passion, courage, and the enduring impact of a life cut short.