An English court opened an inquest into a tragic case where a 23-year-old woman was shot dead by her own father while visiting a home in Texas. The incident reportedly began with an argument over President Donald Trump and gun ownership, before the father claimed the gun accidentally discharged into her chest as he tried to show it.
The court in Cheshire, United Kingdom, began investigating the death of Lucy Harrison, a 23-year-old British woman who was shot dead by her father while visiting a home in Texas, USA, on 10 Jan 2025. It was found that prior to the incident, they had a heated argument about President Donald Trump and gun ownership.
Lucy Harrison, from Warrington, Cheshire, was shot in the chest in Prosper, near Dallas, while on holiday with her boyfriend. Local police investigated the case as a possible accidental killing, but a grand jury in Collin County decided not to charge Chris Harrison, the father, resulting in no criminal proceedings.
During the inquest, Lucy's boyfriend Sam Littler testified that on the day of the incident, they traveled together to the US for a holiday, and that morning Lucy had a "major argument" with her father about Donald Trump, who was then preparing for his second term as president.
Littler stated that Lucy was often upset when her father talked about gun ownership, and on that day she asked how he would feel if she were a woman who had been sexually assaulted. Chris replied that he had two other daughters living with him, so it probably wouldn't affect him much, which upset Lucy and caused her to run upstairs.
About half an hour before leaving for the airport, Lucy was in the kitchen when her father grabbed her hand and led her to the downstairs bedroom. Shortly after, Littler heard a gunshot and then Chris shouted for his wife.
Littler testified that when he ran into the room, he found Lucy lying on the floor near the bathroom, while Chris appeared shocked and was speaking incoherently.
In a statement submitted to the court, Chris Harrison said that he and his daughter were watching news about gun crime when he mentioned having a firearm and asked if Lucy wanted to see it. He then took her to the bedroom to retrieve a 9mm semi-automatic Glock pistol kept in a bedside cabinet.
He said he bought the gun two years earlier to provide a “sense of security” for the family and denied ever discussing it with his daughter before. He stated that while raising the gun to show it, it discharged unexpectedly, causing Lucy to fall immediately, and he could not recall if his finger was on the trigger.
The inquest also revealed that Chris had undergone treatment for alcohol addiction, and on the day of the incident, he admitted to drinking again, consuming about 500 milliliters of white wine because he was distressed that his daughter was about to travel back.
Police reported detecting alcohol on Chris’s breath after the incident, while CCTV footage showed he purchased two boxes of Chardonnay wine from a convenience store before 1 p.m. that day.
At the start of the hearing, Chris’s lawyer requested the coroner’s removal, alleging potential bias and that the inquest resembled a criminal investigation, but the court rejected the motion. Meanwhile, Lucy’s mother Jane Coates’s lawyer stated that Chris was the only person in the room and was the one who shot Lucy on the day in question.
In a statement through his lawyer, Chris Harrison accepted responsibility for his actions and said there is not a day he does not feel the loss, which will stay with him for life.
Jane Coates described her daughter as full of life, passionate about debating important issues, and committed to her beliefs. Lucy worked as a purchasing officer for the fashion brand Boohoo.
The court has postponed the inquest until Wednesday, when the coroner is expected to announce the case’s conclusion.
. SourceBBC