The UK government is facing calls to pressure Texas law enforcement to reopen the investigation into the death of British woman Lucy Harrison, who was fatally shot by her father in Prosper, Texas, in January 2025. Labour MP Sarah Hall raised the case in the House of Commons, urging ministers to use diplomatic channels to ensure the findings of a British coroner are considered by US authorities.
Background of the Case
Lucy Harrison, 23, from Warrington, Cheshire, was visiting her father Kris at his home in Prosper, near Dallas, when she was shot in the chest on January 10, 2025. She had arrived with her boyfriend Sam Littler on December 28, 2024, just days after Christmas. The shooting occurred shortly before the pair were due to leave for the airport to return to the UK.
According to evidence presented at an inquest in Cheshire, Kris had been drinking alcohol on the day of the shooting. He claimed he had taken Lucy into a bedroom to show her his gun following an argument about US President Donald Trump. Sam Littler testified that around 15 seconds after they entered the room, he heard a bang, followed by Kris shouting for his wife Heather. Family members and a neighbour rushed to the downstairs bedroom, where they found Lucy's body on the floor.
No Charges in Texas
Despite the circumstances, local police in Texas investigated the death as possible manslaughter but a grand jury in Collin County declined to indict Kris. No criminal charges were brought. However, Senior Coroner for Cheshire, Jaqueline Devonish, concluded at the inquest in February 2026 that Kris's actions amounted to unlawful killing on the grounds of gross negligence manslaughter. She described his conduct as "truly exceptionally bad and reprehensible" and rejected the account that the gun had simply gone off.
MP's Call for Action
During a Commons debate, Labour MP Sarah Hall said: "She was in her father's home, somewhere she should have been safe." Hall criticised the lack of support from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) for Lucy's family, including her mother Jane and boyfriend Sam, particularly in navigating the Texas legal system. The MP added that the case was considered by a grand jury but "no criminal charges were brought. The gun had simply gone off." Hall implored the government to "use every channel it has to press the relevant authorities in Texas to reopen or formally reconsider Lucy's case" and "to stand alongside a British family to ensure that the findings of a British court are properly considered."
Impact and Next Steps
Lucy's family, led by her mother Jane Coates, have been seeking justice and highlighting inconsistencies in the original investigation. The coroner's finding of unlawful killing in the UK contrasts sharply with the Texas grand jury's decision. The FCDO has faced criticism for its handling of the case, with the MP noting that the family was not given adequate guidance. The government has yet to respond formally to the calls for renewed pressure on Texas authorities.
