Coroner Finds British Woman Unlawfully Killed in Texas Shooting After Trump Dispute
A British woman, Lucy Harrison, aged 23, was unlawfully killed by her alcoholic father following an argument about Donald Trump, a coroner has officially ruled. The tragic incident occurred in Prosper, Texas, on January 10 last year, where Ms. Harrison, a fashion buyer for Boohoo from Warrington, Cheshire, was shot in the chest by her father, Kris Harrison.
Details of the Fatal Incident
Senior Coroner Jacqueline Devonish concluded the inquest on Thursday, stating that Mr. Harrison's actions were reckless. She noted that to shoot his daughter through the chest while she was standing, he must have pointed the gun at her without checking for bullets and pulled the trigger. Mr. Harrison, described as a functioning alcoholic, claimed the gun discharged accidentally, but the coroner dismissed this, emphasizing his negligence.
Family members wept in court as the verdict of unlawful killing on grounds of gross negligence manslaughter was announced. Outside the coroner's court in Warrington, Ms. Harrison's mother, Jane Coates, expressed that the outcome had given her daughter a voice after a year of shock and grief. She criticized Texan gun laws and police decisions, stating that Lucy's death was needless and avoidable.
Background and Evidence Presented
According to testimony from Ms. Harrison's boyfriend, Sam Littler, the argument over Donald Trump, who was due to be inaugurated later that month, had upset Lucy earlier in the day. Approximately thirty minutes before they planned to leave for the airport, Mr. Harrison led his daughter to his bedroom, where he kept a Glock semi-automatic handgun in a bedside cabinet.
In a statement, Mr. Harrison admitted to drinking wine that day and claimed he bought the gun for home defense, which under Texas laws did not require a license. He asserted that Lucy asked to see the weapon, but the coroner rejected this, citing evidence that Ms. Harrison disliked guns and considered them a danger. The coroner found that Mr. Harrison did not immediately inform 911 that he had shot his daughter, worsening her prognosis with a bullet through her heart.
Coroner's Findings on Alcohol and Gun Safety
Coroner Devonish highlighted that Mr. Harrison was a secret drinker and had been consuming alcohol continuously on the day of the shooting. She described him as a teaser and likely engaging in such behavior when he removed the gun from its box. Although she accepted he did not know the gun was loaded, she stressed that his lack of experience, training, and prior gun use posed a severe risk to his daughter's life.
The inquest also revealed that Texas police failed to test Mr. Harrison for alcohol despite suspecting he had been drinking, and a grand jury in the U.S. found insufficient evidence to charge anyone in connection with the death. Concluding the proceedings, the coroner lamented the loss of a young, vibrant woman with her whole life ahead, calling it a most tragic death.
