Lucy Harrison, a Manchester Metropolitan University graduate, was killed in Texas after being shot from ‘medium range’
13:10, 10 Feb 2026Updated 13:12, 10 Feb 2026
Lucy Harrison was visiting her dad Kris in Texas when she was shot
A young woman was shot dead by her dad while on holiday at his home in the United States, an inquest into her death was told.
Lucy Harrison, a Manchester Metropolitan University graduate from Warrington, was on holiday with her boyfriend at her father’s home in Texas when she was shot at from ‘medium range’. The ‘beautiful’ 23-year-old tragically died from the gunshot wound to her chest.
The exact circumstances of her death had not previously been revealed but today (February 10), an inquest held at Cheshire Coroner’s Court was told how it was her father Kris Harrison who shot her. He then ‘lied’ about drinking alcohol on the day of the incident on January 10, 2025.
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Lucy and her boyfriend Sam Littler had arrived at her dad’s home in Prosper in Texas on December 28, 2024, having flown out from Heathrow airport, the Liverpool Echo reports. The couple had bought their first home together just nine months earlier and had welcomed family round for their first Christmas days before they left the country.
According to a medical report seen by the ECHO, Lucy was shot in the chest by another person, with five witnesses present in the house when police arrived. It also stated Lucy had no alcohol or drugs in her system.
Lucy Harrison, from Warrington(Image: Facebook)
Despite suffering a gunshot wound to her chest from ‘medium range’ fired by another person, a grand jury found no-one would be prosecuted over her death on June 10 last year. A grand jury in Texas consists of 12 people who determine whether there is probable cause to believe a person committed a felony, assessing all evidence in private.
Despite the person accused of committing a crime being charged by police, they are not named if the grand jury decides to conclude criminal proceedings.
Coroner rejects Mr Harrison’s last-minute legal plea
At the inquest today, Mr Harrison’s counsel, Ana Samuel, tried to argue the senior coroner, Jacqueline Devonish, was ‘potentially biased’ as she applied for a recusal – where the coroner would be forced to step down.
Ms Samuel further claimed that the coroner was ‘trying to catch Mr Harrison out’ due to not providing disclosure. She continued to say there was a ‘clear impression the inquest has been carried out in the way of a criminal investigation rather than that of a fact finding issue’.
When asked to comment on the coroner’s ability to provide a conclusion, she noted she would likely be looking at handing down the conclusion of unlawful killing. She said: “The only matter that is potentially relevant to you is what experience did Mr Harrison have, if any, with the firearm and whether Mr Harrison was under the influence.”
Lucy’s dad Kris Harrison
But Lois Norris, representing Lucy’s mum, Jane Coates, argued that Mr Harrison had 113 days to raise any concerns from when he was asked to provide a witness statement to the court. She said: “When an interested person requests disclosure it should be provided as soon as reasonably possible. That was provided as soon as reasonably practical.”
She continued: “This is simply an ambush by Mr Harrison’s legal team on the morning of what is already an incredibly traumatic day.”
She stated that Mr Harrison was ‘historically an alcoholic’ and the coroner had to determine how Mr Harrison and his daughter found themselves in a bedroom of the property alone with the firearm.
‘He was the only person in the room’
Ms Devonish declined to recuse the hearing and step down from conducting the inquest.
She told the court: “Mr Harrison has lost his opportunity to provide his evidence. He was the only person in the room at the time Lucy was shot and it was important that he provided his statement of fact. There was no need for him to see the disclosure.
Lucy with her dog Freddie on Christmas Eve 2024
“I don’t provide bundles until we have the initial statement as I take it into account in reviewing evidence.”
Ms Devonish outlined that she has no relationship with those involved in the inquest, and as a result, had no need to step down from her role. She continued: “I do not feel the need to stand down from this case today or at any time.”
Following further dispute from Ms Samuel, Ms Devonish said: “When I received the police statement he had lied about his drinking and had not admitted to being an alcoholic.” She added: “He only said yesterday that he admits drinking alcohol on the day in question.”
‘Lucy was full of energy and life’
Lucy’s mum Jane previously described her daughter as being ‘bold, brave and full of life’. She said: “It’s so hard to capture who she was, and who she still is, using words because they just don’t come close.
“She was full of energy and life, and she was bold and brave. She was so emotionally intelligent, she was able to feel everything and she wasn’t ashamed of feeling everything.”
Lucy pictured with her mum Jane
Jane also described the moment she was woken in the middle of the night by Sam’s mum to tell her what had happened. “I think, normally, you’d expect if someone is knocking on your door in the middle of the night you know something bad has happened, but it just didn’t even process with me,” Jane explained.
“I thought it was something to do with Lucy and Sam’s house but then Helen said she had been shot and she’s not made it. That just doesn’t process.
“I just ran up the stairs and into my bedroom. I remember Helen sitting on the edge of the bed and I asked her if I was dreaming, it just did not compute, and she said no.”