The heartbroken mother of a young woman fatally shot by her father in his US home has submitted a formal complaint to the American police department that handled the case.
Background of the Tragedy
Lucy Harrison, a 23-year-old fashion buyer from Warrington, Cheshire, was shot through the heart by her father, Kris, on January 10 last year. She was visiting his home in Prosper, Texas, with her boyfriend Sam Littler. Despite the circumstances, a grand jury found insufficient evidence to charge Kris. A grand jury is a legal body that investigates potential criminal conduct and decides whether enough evidence exists for a formal charge.
The firearm was legally owned by Harrison in Texas, where state law does not require a license or training for home defense. An inquest at Cheshire Coroner's Court concluded that Lucy was unlawfully killed. The inquest heard that Mr. Harrison initially denied drinking but later admitted to it; however, police did not administer breathalyzer or blood alcohol tests.
Formal Complaint Filed
The case was closed by US police in June 2025. A year later, Lucy's mother Jane Coates, from Warrington, submitted a formal complaint to the Prosper Police Department on June 10. She believes the investigation "lacked rigour and scrutiny" and hopes the case will be reopened.
Jane stated: "A year ago since a grand jury in Texas issued a 'no bill' (no prosecution), I have submitted a formal complaint to the Prosper Police Department. At the very core, this is not about laws or jurisdiction. It is my strongly held belief that this is about a police investigation which lacked rigour, scrutiny and fell below the professional standards Lucy deserved."
Inconsistencies Highlighted
As part of the complaint, Jane highlighted what she considers 'inconsistencies' in the investigation. Following Lucy's inquest in February, she raised concerns about the speed at which police concluded no charges would be brought. She said: "That was one of my very first concerns about the nature of the investigation. How quickly that they had ascertained it was an accidental discharge. I couldn't understand how they came to that conclusion before she had even had her medical examination. They came to this conclusion without even seeing her wound."
Jane also believes Kris's alcohol consumption should have been further investigated, as he was the only living witness to Lucy's death. She said: "It felt like his version of events was given a lot more weight than anything else. I feel that the evidence was there to see. Officers smelt alcohol on his breath. He only admitted drinking after the officer told him he could smell it on his breath. For us, it's unfathomable that he could be the only living witness in that room – it was only Lucy and him in there – and they took his account. It should have been further investigated."
Campaign for Justice
Since her daughter's inquest, Jane launched a campaign called 'For Luce' to support families navigating foreign justice systems. The campaign's motto is 'Make change, do better, be better.' She said: "My daughter's death was entirely avoidable and a tragic waste of a cherished life. Luce had so much more life to live, to love, to give."
Jane has yet to receive confirmation that her complaint has been received by the Prosper Police Department, which has been approached for comment.
