The death of 23-year-old Lucy Harrison has drawn attention on both sides of the Atlantic, as an inquest in the United Kingdom continues to examine the circumstances surrounding the fatal shooting that occurred during her visit to her father’s home in Texas. Harrison, originally from Warrington in Cheshire, was shot in the chest on 10 January 2025 in Prosper, a town near Dallas. What initially appeared to be a tragic domestic incident has unfolded into a complex case involving family tensions, political disagreements, alcohol relapse, and questions about firearm handling.
Police in Prosper investigated the death as possible manslaughter, but no criminal charges were brought after a grand jury in Collin County declined to indict her father, Kris Harrison. The inquest now underway at Cheshire Coroner’s Court is focused on determining how and why the shooting occurred, examining both the immediate circumstances and the broader context of the relationship between father and daughter.
Evidence presented so far has revealed a sequence of emotional confrontations, shifting explanations, and unanswered questions. Testimony from Lucy Harrison’s boyfriend, statements from her father, and reports from responding officers have all contributed to a detailed reconstruction of the day that ended in her death.
A Visit Marked by Tension and Political Disagreement
Lucy Harrison had travelled to the United States with her boyfriend, Sam Littler, to visit her father during what was intended to be a holiday. Her father had moved to the United States when she was still a child, and the visit was part of an effort to spend time together before she returned home. However, according to testimony presented at the inquest, the atmosphere in the household became increasingly strained on the day of the shooting.
Littler described a “big argument” that took place earlier that morning concerning Donald Trump, who at the time was preparing to be inaugurated for a second term as President of the United States. The discussion reportedly became heated, reflecting strong emotions and differing perspectives. According to Littler, Lucy Harrison often became upset when her father spoke about firearms, and this subject had been a recurring source of tension between them.
During the argument, Lucy asked her father a deeply personal hypothetical question. She reportedly asked how he would feel if she were the victim of sexual assault. According to Littler’s testimony, her father responded by saying that he had two other daughters living with him and that it would not upset him as much. The remark caused visible distress, and Lucy became emotional and ran upstairs.
The exchange revealed underlying fractures in their relationship that extended beyond political debate. Witness testimony suggested that discussions about gun ownership, personal safety, and social issues had previously led to disagreements between them. These tensions formed the backdrop to the events that followed later that day.
At the time of the visit, Lucy Harrison was working as a buyer for the fashion brand Boohoo. Family members described her as passionate and outspoken, someone who cared deeply about issues that mattered to her and was unafraid to debate them. According to her boyfriend, she engaged strongly with topics such as social justice and gun violence, subjects that may have intensified the emotional nature of conversations within the household.
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By early afternoon, the atmosphere in the home had not fully settled. The couple were preparing to leave for the airport, and what happened shortly before their departure would become the central focus of the inquest.
The Shooting Inside the Bedroom
According to testimony, Lucy Harrison was in the kitchen roughly half an hour before she and Littler were due to leave for the airport. Her father approached her, took her by the hand, and led her into his ground-floor bedroom. Littler remained elsewhere in the house but reported hearing a loud bang approximately 15 seconds later. He ran toward the bedroom and found Lucy lying on the floor near the entrance to the bathroom. Her father was reportedly shouting incoherently and calling for his wife.
Emergency services were contacted, but Lucy Harrison had sustained a fatal gunshot wound to the chest. Kris Harrison later provided a statement explaining his account of what occurred. He said that he and his daughter had been watching a news item about gun crime. During the conversation, he told her that he owned a firearm and asked whether she wanted to see it. According to his statement, he retrieved a Glock 9mm semi-automatic handgun from a bedside cabinet in his bedroom.
He said the gun had been purchased a couple of years earlier because he wanted a sense of security for his family. He also stated that he had never previously discussed the firearm with Lucy. According to his account, he lifted the gun to show her and suddenly heard a loud bang. He said he did not understand what had happened and that Lucy fell immediately after the shot was fired.
In his statement, Harrison said he could not recall whether his finger was on the trigger at the time. He described the shooting as something he did not fully comprehend in the moment, presenting it as an accidental discharge rather than a deliberate act. The inquest has been examining the plausibility and implications of this account, as well as the circumstances leading to the weapon being handled in the first place. Questions have been raised about storage practices, handling procedures, and whether emotional stress may have played a role in decision-making at the time.
Evidence presented also indicated that Harrison had previously struggled with alcohol addiction and had attended rehabilitation in the past. He admitted that he had relapsed on the day of the shooting, stating that he had consumed approximately 500 millilitres of white wine because he felt emotional about his daughter leaving.
Police evidence supported the presence of alcohol. An officer who responded to the scene reported smelling alcohol on Harrison’s breath. CCTV footage showed him purchasing two 500-millilitre cartons of Chardonnay from a 7-Eleven store shortly before 1 p.m. local time. These details have become a central element of the inquest’s examination of events, particularly regarding judgment, awareness, and responsibility at the time of the shooting.
Legal Proceedings and the Ongoing Inquest
Despite the fatal outcome, criminal charges were not pursued. After reviewing the case, a grand jury in Collin County declined to indict Kris Harrison. The absence of a criminal trial means the inquest in the United Kingdom has become the primary forum for examining the circumstances of Lucy Harrison’s death. The hearing has included procedural disputes as well as factual testimony.
At the start of proceedings, legal representatives for Kris Harrison requested that the coroner, Jacqueline Devonish, recuse herself. They argued that a fair-minded observer might conclude there was a real possibility of bias and suggested that the inquest had been conducted in a manner resembling a criminal investigation rather than a fact-finding inquiry. Representatives for Lucy Harrison’s mother opposed the application, describing it as an unexpected challenge. They emphasised that Kris Harrison was the only person in the room when the shooting occurred and that his actions were central to the inquiry.
The coroner refused the application to step aside, allowing the inquest to continue under her direction. In a statement issued through his solicitors, Kris Harrison said he fully accepted the consequences of his actions. He expressed ongoing grief and said he carried the weight of the loss every day. The statement did not change his account of the shooting but acknowledged the lasting impact of the event.
Lucy Harrison’s mother, Jane Coates, described her daughter as energetic, engaged, and deeply passionate. She portrayed her as someone who cared strongly about issues and enjoyed meaningful debate. Family statements have emphasised her personality and achievements, providing context to the life that ended during what was meant to be a temporary visit. The inquest has been adjourned pending further review and is expected to resume with the coroner delivering formal conclusions.
Those findings will address the circumstances of Lucy Harrison’s death, including whether it should be recorded as accidental, unlawful, or another legally defined category. As proceedings continue, the case remains an example of how personal conflict, emotional strain, and the presence of a firearm intersected in a single moment with irreversible consequences. The inquest’s outcome will establish the official account of events, but the testimony already heard has outlined a detailed and deeply contested reconstruction of the day Lucy Harrison died.