The family of a young Warrington woman killed by her father in the United States have asked Cheshire Constabulary to help secure new evidence after American authorities closed the case without criminal charges.
Lucy Harrison was shot in the chest by her father, Kris Harrison, on January 10 2025, at his home in Prosper, Texas, shortly before she was due to return to Warrington. Criminal charges were never brought after a grand jury in Collin County concluded there was insufficient evidence, following Mr Harrison's claim that the gun fired accidentally while he was showing it to her.
Coroner's ruling
Earlier this year, a coroner in England found that Lucy had been unlawfully killed and that her father's actions amounted to gross negligence manslaughter under UK law. Senior coroner Jacqueline Devonish ruled in February that Mr Harrison's conduct had been "reckless".
The inquest heard he had been drinking wine before removing a loaded Glock pistol from his bedside cabinet. The coroner concluded the gun could only have been fired after it was pointed at Ms Harrison, and the trigger pulled, and heard that police officers in Texas did not carry out an alcohol test despite smelling alcohol on Mr Harrison's breath.
Police response
Since then, Lucy's family has been in touch with Cheshire Constabulary to ask them to examine evidence that has not yet been looked into, including messages found on Lucy's phone. However, the police force has no authority to intervene.
In a letter to Ms Harrison's family, Cheshire Constabulary Deputy Chief Constable Mike Evans said: "Whilst we may share the family's concerns and understand their desire for further scrutiny, we have no lawful authority to intervene in decision taken by those agencies."
He added: "I hope the family can be assured that Cheshire Constabulary has never viewed this matter with indifference. We recognise the profound loss they have suffered and understand why they continue to seek answers.
"However, whilst we have great sympathy for the family's position, we are ultimately constrained by legal, jurisdictional and practical realities that significantly limit what any police force in England and Wales can do in relation to a death that occurred in the United States."
Family's plea
Radd Seiger, a spokesman for Ms Harrison's family in the UK, said they are not asking the force to take control of the investigation. He said messages found on her phone are "relevant to understanding the circumstances leading up to her death".
He added: "This is evidence that the family believe should have been obtained and examined as part of the original investigation in Texas."
With the newly discovered messages, Lucy's family have asked the police whether they would reconsider their position and help share the evidence with authorities in Texas.
Mr Seiger said: "The family have spent nearly two years trying to get answers about Lucy's death and justice for her.
"They are not prepared to accept that the investigation is complete simply because the American authorities have decided not to take the matter further.
"They want the evidence properly examined, the unanswered questions addressed and the authorities to make their decisions on the basis of all the relevant information, rather than evidence which is so obviously incomplete.
"That is all the family are asking for. A proper examination of the evidence, and a fair opportunity for the outstanding questions surrounding Lucy's death to be answered."
