Prosper, Texas – A Texas grand jury has declined to indict Kris Harrison after he fatally shot his 23-year-old daughter, Lucy Harrison, following a heated argument reportedly centered on Donald Trump and gun ownership. The incident, which occurred on , in Prosper, Texas, has prompted a coroner’s inquest in Cheshire, England, where Lucy Harrison was originally from.
The inquest, held on Tuesday, , revealed details of the escalating dispute that preceded the shooting. According to testimony from Lucy Harrison’s boyfriend, Sam Littler, the argument stemmed from differing political views and a discussion about accusations of sexual assault against the former U.S. President. Littler stated that Lucy questioned her father, asking, “How would you feel if I was the girl in that situation and I’d been sexually assaulted?” Kris Harrison reportedly responded that it wouldn’t upset him too much, as he had two other daughters.
This response, Littler recounted, visibly upset Lucy, causing her to storm off in anger. Later that day, as they prepared to leave for the airport to return to the United Kingdom, Kris Harrison took his daughter to his bedroom to show her his firearm, following a news segment about gun crime. Littler described hearing a loud bang approximately fifteen seconds later, followed by his father-in-law’s cries. He found Lucy lying on the floor near the bathroom entrance.
Kris Harrison’s account, presented to the court, stated that he was showing Lucy a Glock 9mm semiautomatic pistol he had purchased several years prior, intending to provide a sense of security for his family. He claimed he did not recall having his finger on the trigger when the gun discharged. “As I lifted the gun to show her I suddenly heard a loud bang. I did not understand what had happened. Lucy immediately fell,” he stated, according to the BBC report.
The Collin County grand jury’s decision not to indict Harrison has drawn scrutiny, particularly given the circumstances surrounding the shooting. Authorities initially investigated the death as a possible manslaughter case. The investigation revealed that Kris Harrison had a history of alcohol abuse and had been in rehabilitation. He admitted to relapsing on the day of the shooting, consuming approximately 500 milliliters of white wine.
Security camera footage reportedly showed Harrison purchasing two 500ml containers of Chardonnay from a 7-Eleven store shortly before the incident. This detail adds another layer to the complex narrative surrounding the tragedy.
Lucy Harrison, a fashion designer from Warrington, Cheshire, had been visiting her father, who moved to the United States when she was a child. The incident highlights the increasingly fraught political climate in the United States and the potential for personal disputes to escalate with devastating consequences. The argument over Donald Trump, while seemingly specific, underscores the deep divisions that continue to permeate American society and, as this case demonstrates, can have international repercussions.
The case also raises questions about gun ownership and safety, particularly in a country with a high rate of gun violence. Littler noted that Lucy frequently expressed discomfort with her father’s possession of a firearm. The fact that the shooting occurred while Harrison was demonstrating the weapon to his daughter underscores the inherent risks associated with firearms, even when handled by licensed owners.
In a statement released through his lawyers, Kris Harrison expressed acceptance of the consequences of his actions. “There isn’t a day that goes by that I don’t feel the weight of this loss, a weight that I will carry for the rest of my life,” the statement read. The coroner ruled Lucy Harrison’s death as unlawful, describing her father’s actions as “reckless.”
The ruling in Cheshire follows the grand jury’s decision in Texas not to pursue criminal charges, leaving a family and community to grapple with the aftermath of a tragedy rooted in political disagreement and compounded by personal struggles. The case serves as a stark reminder of the potential for conflict to arise from deeply held beliefs and the devastating consequences that can follow.
