A heartbreaking update has been released in the case of a 23-year-old British woman who was shot in the chest at her father’s home in Texas.
Lucy Harrison tragically died from a gunshot wound to the chest at her father’s home near Dallas on January 10, just hours before she was due to fly back to Manchester.
At the time, authorities confirmed Lucy had died after being shot by “another person” and said a suspect had been identified, and that the case was being investigated as a “criminally negligent homicide," per BBC News.
However, the Collin County District Attorney’s Office has now confirmed that a Grand Jury has issued a “no-bill” in the case, meaning charges will not be brought, The Sun reported.
Lucy's mother, Jane Coates, from Warrington, Cheshire, described the decision as “baffling” and “beyond comprehension".
She said the Grand Jury determined the evidence did not meet the threshold for criminal proceedings.
“Although we have tried so hard to prepare for this moment, it is a brutal outcome to accept,” Jane said. “It is baffling and beyond comprehension to us, our families and friends, that there is to be no accountability for what happened to my daughter. The international element, coupled with a different legal system, practice, and thresholds, makes the outcome even harder and more frustrating to accept.”
She added: “The outpouring of love for Lucy, myself, Sam, and our families and friends, from our local community and beyond, has been overwhelming, and I cannot thank everyone enough for their ongoing support.”
In the United States, unlike in Britain, a Grand Jury of citizens reviews evidence in secret to decide whether to pursue prosecution, and details of who could have been charged have not been released.
The horrific incident occurred while Lucy was visiting her father, Kris Harrison, in the Dallas suburb of Prosper. Kris is originally from Southport but now lives in Texas.
The bereaved mother paid tribute to her daughter, saying: “When the time is right, I would welcome learning more from communities and groups in Texas who are working to prevent gun deaths through education, partnerships, and policy change. I know that Lucy would be a fierce advocate of this.
“I miss her infectious belly laughs, her constant chatter about her dream job at Boohoo in Manchester, her requests to tickle her legs, travel plans, her tears – and there were many!" she continued.
"Most of all, as her mum, I miss spending time with the absolute light of my life. It was, and still is, a privilege to be her mum. In the words of her final Mother's Day card to me, I’ll ‘keep mumming it.’”
Just hours before her death, Lucy was pictured smiling in the snow alongside her father, younger siblings, and stepmother, Metro reported.
She was also photographed with her boyfriend, Sam, who had travelled with her to the US after Christmas.
The couple, who had recently purchased a house together, were planning to fly back to Manchester the day after Lucy’s death.
“Due to the legal proceedings over in America, Lucy’s voice has been silenced, leaving myself and Jane completely heartbroken,” Sam said. “This outcome has left us baffled, heartbroken, and it has been incredibly frustrating to understand the thresholds and legal system in Texas.
“Our whole life was planned out, and we began that first step by buying our own home. I was one of the very fortunate ones who met ‘their person’ at a very young age, and I will be forever grateful to experience that, even for just one minute," he added.
The family has requested that, if people wish, donations be made to Peace and Mind UK, a charity based in Lucy’s hometown, founded in memory of murdered teenager Brianna Ghey.