Jane Coates, the mother of a British graduate shot dead by her father in Texas, is traveling to the United States in an effort to persuade prosecutors to reopen the case. Her daughter, Lucy Harrison, a 23-year-old fashion buyer from Warrington, Cheshire, was shot and killed by her father, Kris Harrison, at his home in Prosper, Texas, on January 10, 2025. The shooting occurred just hours before Ms. Harrison was scheduled to fly back to the UK.

A grand jury in Collin County, Texas, previously decided there was insufficient evidence to bring criminal charges. Kris Harrison had claimed the handgun discharged accidentally while he was demonstrating it to his daughter.

However, in February 2026, a coroner in England concluded that Lucy Harrison had been unlawfully killed. The coroner found that Mr. Harrison's actions amounted to gross negligence manslaughter under UK law, stating the conduct was "reckless." The inquest heard that Mr. Harrison had been drinking wine before removing a loaded handgun from his bedside cabinet. The coroner determined the gun could only have been fired if it was pointed at Lucy and the trigger pulled. Police officers in Texas had not administered an alcohol test despite smelling alcohol on his breath.

Coates expressed feeling "incredibly alone" and "deserted by the British authorities" in her pursuit of justice. She has sought assistance from Radd Seiger, who previously advised the family of Harry Dunn, a teenager killed in a road crash involving an American citizen in the UK.

"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," Coates said, adding that apart from her Member of Parliament, Sarah Hall, her efforts had been met with closed doors.

Coates stated that she had hoped the unlawful killing conclusion would be a turning point but that it had not yet led to a reopening of the investigation in Texas. She and Seiger plan to meet with the district attorney in Collin County to appeal for a fresh investigation in light of the coroner's findings.

"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," Coates said of her goals for the trip. "That's the ultimate goal."

Coates is not asking the Foreign Office to interfere with the American justice system but is seeking public support from the British government. "Surely, having an unlawful killing conclusion in a coroner's court should then mean something, and I definitely thought that it would have been escalated in the Foreign Office," she said. "I'm not calling for the Foreign Office to interfere in jurisdiction abroad… but to be a voice for Lucy and for our family – to know that we are supported by the British Government, to be able to campaign for the case to be reopened."

The family has requested a meeting with Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband and other senior officials. Coates hopes for "an acceptance and an understanding of what we have been through as a family, and for a recognition that things should have been different. And their assurances that they will publicly support us in our campaign and moving forward with the US authorities."

A spokesperson for the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office stated that their thoughts remain with Jane and her family and that consular support was provided. The office also indicated they would "always look to learn lessons to improve the consular support we offer to other families in the future" and are reviewing recent correspondence from Ms. Harrison's family.

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