A British woman was killed by her father in Texas after a heated argument aboutDonald Trump, a coroner has ruled. Lucy Harrison, 23, from Warrington in Cheshire, died from a gunshot wound to the chest at Kris Harrison's home in Prosper, near Dallas, on 10 January 2025. She had been visiting with her boyfriend, Sam Littler, when the dispute escalated on the morning they were due to fly home.
Lucy Harrison worked as a fashion buyer for Boohoo and was described by her mother, Jane Coates, as a 'real force of life' who was passionate about debates on issues that mattered to her. She had travelled to Texas to stay with her father, who had moved to the US when she was young, along with Littler for what should have been a straightforward holiday.
Kris Harrison, an alcoholic who had previouslyattended rehab, admitted to drinking on the day of the incident despite initially lying to police about it. The argument flared up over Donald Trump, who was set to be inaugurated for a second term later that month. Littler recounted how the exchange grew intense and emotional, leaving Lucy quite upset; she ran upstairs to compose herself.
Such political rifts within families are hardly a surprise in polarised times, but this one took a devastating turn. The inquest heard that Kris Harrison's response to his daughter's pointed question about sexual assault—dismissing its impact because of his other children—deepened the hurt. Witnesses noted the household atmosphere had been strained, with the father's history of alcohol issues adding to the volatility.
About half an hour before Lucy and Littler were to head to the airport, Kris Harrison took his daughter by the hand and led her into his ground-floor bedroom. Littler, waiting nearby in the kitchen,heard a loud bangafter roughly 15 seconds. He rushed in to find Lucy on the floor with a fatal chest wound from a semi-automatic handgun.
Kris Harrison claimed theshooting was accidental, insisting he had been showing her the weapon when it discharged. However, the gun was loaded with the safety off, and he had pointed it at her before pulling the trigger, according to details emerging from investigations.
Emergency services pronounced Lucy dead at the scene. The father's blood alcohol level confirmed he had been drinking, contradicting his initial statements to authorities. Littler described hearing Kris Harrison screaming 'nonsense' amid the chaos. This account aligns with broader concerns over firearm handling in private settings, especially under the influence.
Texas police treated the case as possible manslaughter, but a grand jurydeclined to indictKris Harrison, leading to no criminal charges in the US. The UK inquest, opened more than a year later, provided a different outcome. Senior coroner Jacqueline Devonish ruled the death an unlawful killing on grounds of gross negligence manslaughter, branding Kris Harrison's actions as reckless.
Kris Harrison issued a statement expressing profound regret, saying he hadlost his best friendand that his other daughters had lost their big sister. As of 12 February 2026, no further legal steps have been announced. The case underscores ongoing debates about gun safety and political divisions spilling into family life.
Source: International Business Times UK
