Why dad who shot daughter dead after Trump argument won’t face charges: legal expert
A Texas father who shot and killed his daughter following a political dispute involving President Trump will not face criminal charges, according to legal experts, because the grand jury reviewing the case comes from a conservative, gun-friendly region of the state.
Kris Harrison, who admitted that he accidentally discharged his Glock 9mm last year, killing 23-year-old Lucy Harrison, avoided manslaughter and criminally negligent homicide charges. Lindsay Richards, an Austin-based criminal defense attorney, said political leanings in Collin County likely influenced the decision.
“This outcome reflects the conservative nature of this Texas county,” Richards said. “The grand jury’s refusal to indict seems tied to local politics more than anything else.”
Richards, a former prosecutor and partner at Coker and Connelly law firm, suggested that sympathy for firearm accidents and the politically charged context of the case—including its connection to President Trump—may have swayed the decision. She added that criminally negligent homicide would have been a reasonable charge, as it requires showing that Harrison failed to recognize a clear risk that a reasonable person would notice.
Harrison reportedly drank a 17-ounce carton of white wine earlier on the day of the shooting, which Richards said should have been a critical factor in evaluating his responsibility.
“It’s hard to understand why his drinking wasn’t considered when assessing criminal negligence,” she said. “I’ve seen people charged for far less reckless behavior, like running a traffic light. Handling a firearm around your daughter should fall into that category.”
Lucy, who lived with her mother in Warrington, England, was visiting her father in Prosper, a suburb of Dallas, on January 10, 2025. The argument that preceded the shooting reportedly included disagreements over politics and gun rights. Harrison claimed he accidentally shot her while showing her the gun in his bedroom.
In June, a Texas grand jury ruled Lucy’s death an accident. Her mother, Jane Coates, called the decision “baffling” and “beyond comprehension.”
While Texas’ lenient gun laws—such as no licensing requirement—exist, Richards said they likely did not directly affect the case. “Stand Your Ground laws wouldn’t apply here, since they are meant for self-defense situations,” she noted. “This was not about defending yourself; it was a tragic incident between a father and his daughter after drinking and arguing over politics.”
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