British mother travels to Collin County to meet with police, prosecutor in death of daughter

Lucy Harrison died after being shot on January 2025 during a visit to her father's home in Prosper.

A British mother traveled to Collin County and is determined to meet with prosecutors and police about her 23-year-old daughter who was shot and killed by her own father in 2025.

The case has garnered international attention over claims that a possible argument over politics and guns erupted between father and daughter at some point before the tragic events.

Lucy Harrison, 23, died after being shot on January 10, 2025, during a visit to her father's home in Prosper.

Harrison's boyfriend was with her on the trip.

A Collin County grand jury 'no billed' the victim's father in 2025, signaling the end of a criminal case.

However, the victim's mother and her supporters call the police investigation incomplete and flawed and are asking the case be reopened and returned to a new grand jury.

Jane Coates carefully walked up the steps to the Collin County District Courthouse in McKinney on Monday morning hoping to secure a face-to-face meeting with District Attorney Greg Willis and/or longtime lead prosecutor Bill Wirskye.

"It's been incredibly emotional for me to be able to come here, traveling thousands of miles, and I would travel a thousand more and infinite miles for my daughter as I know every parent would," said Coates. "It doesn't matter if you're an English parent, a British parent, an American parent, you would fight to the ends of the earth for your child."

Staff informed Coates and attorney Radd Seiger, who is Coates' adviser and spokesman, that neither Willis nor Wirskye were in today.

Cameras are not allowed inside the courthouse.

Coates and Seiger met with friends, reporters and a British documentary team outside for a scheduled press conference after meeting with a lead investigator in the DA's office who was empathetic and respectful.

"I just wanted, in this very impressive building, to be able to have the opportunity to sit with the investigators and with the DA for them to look me in the eye and tell me, how was this investigation 'rigorous' and 'thorough' then," said Coates. "I am a reasonable person. I am willing to listen, but then surely, they would extend me the courtesy to do the same to me as well."

Coates and Seiger told reporters that they informed the DA's office and the Prosper Police Department of their plans to visit this week in hopes of securing a meeting with top officials.

Following their unsuccessful attempt in McKinney, the group drove to the Town of Prosper's police department.

Coates and Seiger again emerged from the building feeling dejected, although they also described the police department's spokesman they met with as empathetic and respectful.

"It's really tragic that me, as a bereaved mum, is feeling disappointed and angry but not surprised," Coates said in Prosper.

According to Coates, the shooting occurred in a bedroom about 15 minutes before Harrison and her boyfriend prepared to depart to the airport. 

An autopsy conducted on January 13, 2025, determined Harrison suffered a gunshot wound to the chest.

The bullet perforated front to back, right to left, at a downward angle at 'medium' range.

There were no drugs or alcohol in her system, according to the autopsy.

The examination determined the manner of death as 'homicide.'

"Mr. Harrison's account at the beginning was: the gun just went off, and it was an accident," said Seiger. "The police, instead of being professionally curious and having an open mind, just accepted that account and everything just flowed from there."

According to her family, Harrison had a complicated relationship with her father, who is British but moved to North Texas and remarried.

When NBC 5 asked what, if anything, the man's wife or Harrison's boyfriend heard in the moments leading up to the shooting, Coates and Seiger said it was not entirely clear, as they were not in the room when it happened.

The victim's boyfriend was questioned by police and allowed to fly back home to the UK the following day, they said.

The tragic shooting has captured international headlines, in part, because of a possible spat that erupted between father and daughter.

"We think there was a disagreement over Trump and guns, but we don't know because Lucy isn't here to speak for herself," said Seiger.

The Collin County District Attorney's Office released a statement on Monday about the case, stating:

"Lucy’s tragic death was investigated by the Prosper Police Department, with assistance from the Texas Rangers. Neither agency found probable cause to make an arrest. Law enforcement forwarded to us the results of their investigation for presentation to a Collin County Grand Jury. This was done in June of 2025, and the Grand Jury determined, based on all the evidence, that no criminal indictment was warranted. Lucy’s loved ones were kept fully informed at every step of the process, and we understand the Grand Jury’s decision was not the result they desired. Our prayers continue to go out to them."

The victim's advocates say they want to make something clear:

"We're not saying he murdered her," said Seiger. "We don't know what his intent was, but this was not an accident. You just think about why on earth are we from the UK coming all the way over here to do this? It's because it's so obviously wrong what's happened here that it has to be redone; it has to be reinvestigated, it has to be presented to the grand jury again."

The group held up a banner in front of both locations. The banner contains a picture of Lucy taken during a concert. Lucy loved music and was very fashionable, says mom.

The town of Prosper released the following statement to NBC 5 on Monday:

"We have great sympathy for Lucy’s family and recognize that the loss of a child is an unimaginable tragedy.

The Prosper Police Department, along with the Texas Rangers, conducted a thorough and complete investigation. The case was subsequently referred to the Collin County District Attorney’s Office and presented to an independent grand jury, which ultimately declined to move forward with criminal charges.

Given the conclusion of the investigative and prosecutorial processes, and the legal considerations surrounding this matter, the Prosper Police will not be reopening the investigation.

This decision does not diminish the profound loss experienced by Lucy’s family, and our thoughts remain with them."

Coates, her close friends and Seiger have a weeklong stay planned at the moment, and vow to return to both agencies until they are received by authorities and their pleas are heard.