The UK government is facing calls to intervene in a Texas police department’s investigation following the tragic shooting death of a British woman by her father.
Lucy Harrison, a 23-year-old from Warrington, Cheshire, was visiting her father, Kris, in Prosper, near Dallas, when she was fatally shot in the chest on January 10, 2025. The incident occurred shortly before Lucy and her boyfriend were set to return home, just days after their arrival on December 28, 2024.
Despite the circumstances surrounding her death, no criminal charges were filed against Kris by the police. The Senior Coroner for Cheshire, Jaqueline Devonish, ruled that Kris’ actions amounted to unlawful killing due to gross negligence manslaughter during the inquest.
During the investigation, it was revealed that Kris had consumed alcohol on the day of the shooting and had taken Lucy into a room to show her his gun following a disagreement about Donald Trump.
Labour MP Sarah Hall has urged the UK government to push US authorities to reopen the case. Initial investigations by Texas authorities considered manslaughter charges, but a grand jury in Collin County decided not to indict Kris.
In a parliamentary debate, MP Sarah Hall emphasized the need for proper support for Lucy’s family, including her mother Jane and boyfriend Sam Littler, from the Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office to navigate the complexities of the Texas legal system.
Highlighting the severity of the case, MP Sarah Hall stressed the importance of considering the coroner’s findings and urged the government to press for a reassessment of Lucy’s case in collaboration with the British family.
The call for action comes after the coroner’s statement that Kris’ actions leading to Lucy’s death were deemed as exceptionally reckless and not a mere accidental discharge of the gun.