On January 10, in Prosper, Texas, a British woman named Lucy Harrison, aged 23, succumbed to a gunshot wound inflicted by her father, Kris Harrison. The incident, which took place at the father's residence, approximately 35 miles north of Dallas, unfolded amidst a politically charged argument that involved President Donald Trump. This tragic event occurred just days before the President's second inauguration.
Lucy Harrison had traveled from the United Kingdom to the United States with her boyfriend, Sam Littler, to visit her family. Her father, a U.S. resident since Lucy's childhood, acknowledged his struggle with alcohol addiction during an inquest into his daughter's death. Notably, on the day of the shooting, he admitted to consuming three glasses of wine. Despite the circumstances, a Collin County grand jury ultimately decided not to pursue criminal charges against Kris Harrison, leaving him free from prosecution.
The sources report that the father-daughter duo had longstanding political disagreements. Kris Harrison's conservative views, particularly his decision to own a Glock 9mm handgun, were a point of contention. On the day in question, Lucy confronted her father with a hypothetical scenario involving sexual assault. His response, which suggested indifference due to his other daughters, distressed Lucy, leading her to retreat upstairs. Later, as the couple was preparing to leave for the airport, Kris Harrison led his daughter to his bedroom, where shortly after, a gunshot was heard.
Kris Harrison, who told police he was attempting to show his daughter the firearm after watching a news segment on gun violence, could not recall if his finger was on the trigger when the gun discharged. Officer Luciana Escalera, responding to the emergency call, noted in her report the smell of alcohol on Kris Harrison's breath. In a statement through his legal representative, Kris Harrison expressed remorse, stating, "There isn’t a day I don’t feel the weight of that loss, a weight I will carry for the rest of my life."
Jane Coates, Lucy's mother, remembered her daughter as passionate and spirited, someone who relished engaging in debates about her convictions. The grand jury's decision has been met with a mix of silence and outrage on social media, with some users highlighting the contrast in public reactions to other recent incidents.
