Mother of British woman shot dead by father in Texas to go to US in bid to get case reopened

The mother of a 23-year-old British woman who was unlawfully killed after being shot by her father in Texas says she has felt "incredibly alone" and "deserted by the British authorities" throughout her campaign for justice.

Jane Coates is preparing to travel to the US to try to persuade prosecutors to reopen the investigation into her daughter Lucy Harrison's death.

Speaking more than 19 months on from Ms Harrison's death, Ms Coates said she hopes to meet the district attorney and has urged the UK government to offer its full backing for the campaign.

Ms Harrison, a fashion buyer from Warrington, Cheshire, was shot through the chest by her father, Kris Harrison, at his home in Prosper, Texas, on 10 January 2025, the day before she was due to fly back to the UK.

A grand jury in Collin County later decided there was insufficient evidence to bring criminal charges after Mr Harrison claimed the handgun discharged accidentally while he was showing it to his daughter.

In February this year, a coroner in England concluded Ms Harrison had been unlawfully killed, finding that her father's actions amounted to gross negligence manslaughter under UK law.

Discussing the pain of her grieving ordeal, Ms Harrison said: "I think the first year was cocooned by shock, and so I just went through it in 'doing mode', and just being driven to try and do everything I possibly could to get Lucy a voice and justice for her."

She has now sought the assistance of Radd Seiger, who previously advised Harry Dunn's family in their campaign for justice after the 19-year-old was killed by a US citizen in a road crash in Northamptonshire.

Commenting on why she has felt "alone" during her search for justice, Ms Coates, 49, said: "I think it's not being heard - just raising all of our concerns and nothing being acted upon, and feeling like we've just been deserted by the British authorities.

"I think, save Sarah Hall, my MP, who has done everything in her capacity to raise and escalate Lucy's case, it's just felt like there's been doors shut at every single opportunity, and people haven't been there for us."

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Ms Coates, who works as a deputy head teacher, said she had expected the unlawful killing conclusion to become a turning point in her campaign.

She said she is now planning to travel to Texas with Mr Seiger in the hope of persuading the Collin County District Attorney's Office to reconsider the case after the coroner's findings. Mr Seiger said the family wanted the case lifted beyond routine consular handling.

Ms Coates said: "Although I know that it's a completely different jurisdiction, a completely different law, so it's about appealing to them in terms of our real concerns with the US investigation, with the Texas investigation, and that they do agree to reopen Lucy's case and give it new consideration."

A senior coroner ruled in February that Mr Harrison's conduct had been "reckless".

The inquest heard he had been drinking wine before removing a loaded Glock pistol from his bedside cabinet.

The coroner concluded the gun could only have been discharged after it was pointed at Lucy, and the trigger pulled, and heard officers in Texas did not carry out an alcohol test despite smelling alcohol on his breath.

Ms Coates said she was not asking the Foreign Office to interfere in the US justice system, but wanted ministers to publicly support her family.

The family have requested a meeting with Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband and other senior officials.

A Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office spokeswoman said: "Our thoughts remain with Jane and her family for the tragic loss they have suffered.

"We were in contact with the family and provided consular support.

"We will always look to learn lessons to improve the consular support we offer to other families in the future."

It is understood Foreign Office officials are reviewing recent correspondence from Ms Harrison's family and intend to respond.

The Collin County District Attorney's Office has been approached for comment.

(c) Sky News 2026: Mother of British woman shot dead by father in Texas to go to US in bid to get case reopened