The mother of a young British woman who was fatally shot by her father in the United States following a dispute over President Donald Trump has criticized law enforcement for disregarding crucial evidence provided to them.
Lucy Harrison, a resident of Warrington, Cheshire, was visiting her father Kris in Texas when he fatally shot her in the heart during a discussion about the President. Although he was investigated for potential manslaughter, no charges were filed as he claimed the shooting was accidental while demonstrating his firearm to her.
Jane Coates, aged 49, is convinced that authorities overlooked signs of negligence after Lucy’s death on January 10, 2025. She believes her ex-husband did not intend to harm their daughter but acted irresponsibly under the influence of alcohol, a view also echoed by a UK coroner recently.
Lucy, a fashion industry worker, traveled with her boyfriend to stay with her father in late December 2024. Despite her father’s documented struggles with addiction, Coates now alleges that the authorities have failed Lucy in a new interview.
Expressing her frustration and disappointment, Coates expressed her anger towards law enforcement for allegedly disregarding physical evidence at the scene, including a diagram showing the gun’s position, casing, and Lucy’s bloodstains, which suggested she was not where her father claimed she was during the incident.
An autopsy revealed that the bullet trajectory indicated a downward shot at Lucy. The Cheshire Coroner concluded her inquest by deeming the shooting reckless, stating that firing at her chest while standing would require negligence.
Following the incident, authorities classified it as an accident and initiated an inquiry into potential criminal negligence, but no arrests were made. Despite keeping a handgun for security, Kris claimed the shooting was unintentional and that he was unsure if his finger was on the trigger.
In a statement to the Sunday Times a year after Lucy’s death, Jane expressed her dissatisfaction with the lack of clarity on Kris’s alcohol consumption that day. She hopes that the coroner’s determination of Kris’s recklessness under the influence will prompt US authorities to conduct a fresh investigation.