A British woman who was fatally shot by her father while visiting his home in Texas had argued with him earlier that day about former US President Donald Trump, an inquest has heard.
Lucy Harrison, 23, from Warrington in Cheshire, was shot in the chest on 10 January 2025 at her father’s home in Prosper, near Dallas.
Police investigated her death as possible manslaughter, but no criminal charges were brought after a grand jury in Collin County declined to indict her father, Kris Harrison.
An inquest into her death opened at Cheshire Coroner’s Court, where evidence was given by her boyfriend, Sam Littler, who had travelled with her to the United States for a holiday. Littler told the court that Lucy had been involved in a “big argument” with her father earlier that day over Donald Trump, who was preparing for his second presidential inauguration at the time.
According to Littler, Lucy often became upset when her father spoke about owning a gun.
During the argument, she reportedly challenged his views by asking how he would feel if she were a victim of sexual assault. Littler said her father’s response distressed her, causing her to run upstairs.
The court heard that later that day, shortly before the couple were due to leave for the airport, Lucy was in the kitchen when her father took her by the hand and led her into his bedroom.
About 15 seconds later, Littler said he heard a loud bang and then heard Kris Harrison shouting for his wife.
“I ran into the room and Lucy was lying on the floor near the bathroom entrance,” Littler told the court.
In a written statement submitted to the inquest, Kris Harrison said he and his daughter had been watching a television report on gun crime when he told her he owned a firearm and asked if she wanted to see it.
He said he retrieved a Glock 9mm semi-automatic handgun from a bedside cabinet, which he had purchased a few years earlier for what he described as family security.
Harrison said he did not know how the gun discharged and could not recall whether his finger was on the trigger. He denied previously discussing the firearm with his daughter.
The inquest heard that Harrison had struggled with alcohol addiction in the past and had attended rehabilitation. In his statement, he admitted relapsing on the day of the shooting and consuming approximately 500ml of white wine.
Police testimony indicated officers smelled alcohol on his breath when they attended the scene, and CCTV footage showed he had purchased two cartons of wine earlier that day.
Legal representatives for Kris Harrison applied unsuccessfully for the coroner to recuse herself, arguing that the proceedings resembled a criminal investigation rather than a fact-finding inquiry. The coroner rejected the application.
In a statement issued through his solicitors, Harrison said he fully accepted the consequences of his actions and described the loss of his daughter as a burden he would carry for the rest of his life.
Lucy Harrison’s mother, Jane Coates, described her daughter as passionate, caring, and unafraid to engage in debate. Lucy worked as a buyer for fashion retailer Boohoo.
The inquest was adjourned until Wednesday, when the coroner is expected to deliver her conclusions.
