Family seeks UK intervention after inquest finds daughter was 'recklessly' shot
The mother of a young woman from Great Sankey, Warrington, who died after being shot at her father’s home in Texas has made a formal plea to the Prime Minister and Foreign Secretary for help in reopening the matter with US authorities.
Lucy Harrison, a 23-year-old fashion buyer who lived in Great Sankey with her boyfriend, died in January 2025 after she was shot at her father’s house in Prosper, near Dallas. A grand jury in Collin County later decided not to indict her father, Kris Harrison, and no criminal charges were brought in the United States.
Earlier this year an inquest held in the UK found that Mr Harrison had “recklessly” shot his daughter in the chest while the two were in his bedroom. The inquest’s findings prompted the family to campaign for further action and improved support for British relatives dealing with deaths abroad.
Mother calls on UK government for urgent help
Lucy’s mother, Jane Coates, has said she will be writing to Prime Minister Andy Burnham and the new Foreign Secretary, Ed Miliband, requesting an urgent meeting with the Foreign Office to press US authorities for answers. She told broadcasters she was disappointed by the level of support from the previous government but expressed cautious optimism about the new administration.
“I absolutely do have hope in Andy Burnham, and his new government and Ed Milliband as the new Foreign Secretary,”
In television remarks reported by local media, Jane said she watched Mr Burnham’s interview with interest and hoped his stated aim of returning care to politics would translate into practical help for families like hers. She added that while the Prime Minister has a heavy workload, Lucy’s case represented broader issues of truth and justice and the government’s duty to support British citizens abroad.
Campaigning for justice and better consular support
Since the inquest, Lucy’s family and friends have campaigned to keep her case in the public eye and to urge authorities to revisit aspects of the investigation. Their calls have also highlighted the challenges faced by British families when a loved one dies overseas, including communication with foreign law enforcement and access to information.
- Incident: Lucy Harrison shot at father’s home in Prosper, Texas, January 2025.
- US legal outcome: Collin County grand jury declined to indict; no criminal prosecution.
- UK inquest: Found the shooting was ‘reckless’ (inquest held in February).
- Family action: Mother to write to PM and Foreign Secretary seeking Foreign Office intervention.
Local impact and wider questions
The case has resonated in Warrington where Lucy lived and worked, bringing into focus the emotional toll on families and the limits of cross-border criminal justice. For residents, the matter raises questions about what more the UK can do to assist relatives when an apparent crime occurs overseas and when local legal processes result in no criminal charges.
Campaigners in the town have also used the case to call for clearer guidance and stronger support systems from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office for British nationals and their families dealing with deaths abroad.
| Key dates | Event |
|---|---|
| January 2025 | Lucy Harrison shot and later died in Prosper, Texas |
| Undated (US) | Collin County grand jury declined to indict |
| February (this year) | UK inquest found the shooting was ‘reckless’ |
Ms Coates’s planned letters to Mr Burnham and Mr Miliband seek a meeting to explore what the Foreign Office can do to liaise with US authorities and whether further inquiries or diplomatic approaches are possible. The family’s appeal is not only about their own loss but also about creating a framework for other bereaved families navigating similar cross-border cases.
The situation remains unresolved. Any decision by the UK government to take up the case with US counterparts will depend on diplomatic channels and legal considerations on both sides of the Atlantic. For many in Warrington, the story is a reminder of how international events can touch local lives and the importance of accessible support when tragedies occur overseas.
