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Coroner: Texas Shooting of British Daughter Unlawful
12 Feb
Summary
- British graduate Lucy Harrison was unlawfully killed by her father.
- Father claimed gun discharged accidentally while he picked it up.
- Texas police failed to test father for alcohol despite smelling it.
A British coroner has ruled that Lucy Harrison, a 23-year-old graduate, was unlawfully killed by her father in his Prosper, Texas home on January 10, 2025. Her father, Kris Harrison, claimed the Glock 9mm pistol 'just went off' as he picked it up, an account rejected by the coroner.
Senior Coroner Jacqueline Devonish stated Harrison deliberately aimed the gun at his daughter's chest, not realizing it was loaded. The coroner highlighted Harrison's recklessness, noting his lack of firearm training and his consumption of at least 500ml of wine that day.
The investigation by Texas police has been criticized for its shortcomings, particularly their failure to test Harrison for alcohol despite smelling it on his breath. Harrison's daughter was visiting him for the Christmas holidays and was due to fly back to Manchester on the day of her death.
Lucy's mother, Jane Coates, expressed that her daughter 'deserved better' and criticized Texas gun laws and the US investigation's lack of rigor. A grand jury in Texas had previously decided not to prosecute anyone for Lucy's death.
