A Labour MP has urged the UK government to intervene in the case of a British woman shot dead by her father in the United States, pressing for Texas authorities to formally reconsider the circumstances of her death. Lucy Harrison, 23, from Warrington, Cheshire, was fatally shot in the chest at her father Kris Harrison's home in Prosper, near Dallas, on 10 January 2025. Despite an investigation by Texas police into possible manslaughter, a grand jury in Collin County decided against indicting her father.
However, a UK inquest into Ms Harrison's death reached a different conclusion. Senior coroner for Cheshire, Jacqueline Devonish, found that Kris Harrison's actions constituted unlawful killing on the grounds of gross negligence manslaughter. The inquest, held in February, heard that Mr Harrison had been drinking on the day of the incident and had reportedly taken his daughter into a room to show her his gun after they had been arguing about US President Donald Trump.
Speaking in the House of Commons, Sarah Hall, Labour MP for Warrington South, highlighted the disparity between the US and UK findings. Ms Hall quoted the coroner, stating that Kris Harrison's actions were "truly exceptionally bad and reprehensible, so as to amount to her death," and that the coroner rejected the account that the gun had simply gone off. Ms Harrison, a fashion buyer, was staying at the house with her boyfriend, Sam Littler, at the time of the shooting, in a place her family believed she should have been safe.
The MP implored the government to utilise "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." Ms Hall also raised concerns regarding the support provided by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) to Ms Harrison's family, including her mother Jane and Mr Littler. She stated they did not receive "adequate support," particularly concerning information on the intricacies of the Texan legal system.
Beyond the immediate case, Ms Hall called on the FCDO to enhance its future support for families of British citizens who are victims of crimes abroad. This includes ensuring clearer guidance and assistance for those navigating complex foreign legal systems, particularly when circumstances surrounding a death are contested or unclear. The government is now expected to consider the MP's request and determine its next steps in engaging with US authorities on this sensitive matter.