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Mum's Horror: Daughter Shot Dead on Texas Holiday
8 Feb
Summary
- Young woman fatally shot at dad's home in Texas, hours before returning home.
- No one prosecuted for the 23-year-old's death despite a gunshot wound.
- Mother expresses frustration over lack of communication from US and UK authorities.
Jane Coates, 49, recounted the devastating moment she learned her 23-year-old daughter, Lucy Harrison, had been fatally shot on January 10, 2025, at her father's home in Prosper, Texas. Lucy and her boyfriend, Sam Littler, were just hours away from flying back to the UK when the incident occurred. The young woman sustained a gunshot wound to the chest from a medium range, yet a grand jury later decided not to prosecute anyone for her death.
Coates expressed significant frustration with the investigation's transparency, stating she was not adequately informed by Cheshire Police or the Foreign Office. She only received an update days before her daughter's inquest, scheduled for February 12, 2025. Information regarding the investigation in Texas was only accessible after Sam and Helen contacted the Attorney General over a month post-Lucy's death. Victim support from the Foreign Office was only assigned in April 2025.
Thirteen months after the tragedy, Lucy's family continues to grieve. Coates described the ongoing emotional impact, often expecting Lucy to appear as if she had just woken up. An inquest at Cheshire Coroner's Court is set to explore the circumstances of Lucy's death, including the identity of the person responsible. A spokesperson for the Foreign Office stated they supported the family and were in contact with local authorities.
