Latest news with #CollinCountyDistrictAttorney'sOffice
The Irish Sun
a day ago
- The Irish Sun
Tragic update into death of Brit, 23, ‘shot in chest' at dad's US home as her mum reveals ‘killer' will not face justice
THE mum of a Brit woman shot dead at her dad's home in the US has revealed her fury after discovering her alleged killer will not face justice. Lucy Harrison, 23, was discovered at the property in the Prosper area of Texas on January 10. Advertisement 6 Lucy Harrison was shot dead at her dad's US home Credit: Facebook 6 Criminal charges will not be brought Credit: Facebook At the time, authorities in the US confirmed she died after being Officials revealed a suspect had been identified and that the case was being probed as "criminally negligent homicide". But Collin County District Attorney's Office has confirmed that a Grand Jury has issued a 'no-bill' in the case - meaning criminal charges will not be brought. Lucy's mum Jane Coates has now hit out at the "baffling" decision and said it was "beyond comprehension". Advertisement Read more news She said the Grand Jury found the evidence did not meet the threshold for criminal proceedings. Jane, from Warrington, Cheshire, added: ""Although we have tried so hard to prepare for this moment, it is a brutal outcome to accept. "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. Advertisement Most read in The Sun Exclusive "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." Unlike Britain, in the US a Grand Jury of citizens meets to review evidence and decide whether to bring a prosecution. The hearings are conducted in secret, so details of who could have been charged have not been released. It previously emerged from a police report that five witnesses had been identified - including two children. Advertisement Paying tribute, Jane said: "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! "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. Advertisement "In the words of her final Mother's Day card to me, I'll 'keep mumming it'." An inquest in Cheshire heard how Lucy was "on holiday in the USA when she was fatally shot with a firearm". Just hours before the horror , Lucy could be seen posing happily in the snow with her family in touching last photos. Wearing a thick black coat, the graduate beamed next to her dad, younger siblings and stepmum. Advertisement Lucy also grinned alongside her boyfriend, who she had flown to the US with just after Christmas to visit her family. The couple, who had just bought a house together, had been planning to fly back to Manchester the day after Lucy was discovered dead. Sam said: "Due to the legal proceedings over in America, Lucy's voice has been silenced, leaving myself and Jane completely heartbroken. "This outcome has left us baffled, heartbroken, and it has been incredibly frustrating to understand the thresholds and legal system in Texas. Advertisement "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." The family have requested that, if desired, donations be made to Peace and Mind UK - a charity based in Lucy's hometown founded in memory of murdered teenager 6 Lucy was due to fly home when she was shot Credit: Facebook Advertisement 6 A homicide probe had been launched into her death Credit: Facebook 6 Final photos showed Lucy playing in the snow with her family Credit: Facebook 6 The graduate died after being shot in the chest, an inquest found Credit: Facebook
Yahoo
03-05-2025
- Yahoo
Woman sentenced in Collin County's first fentanyl murder case
The Brief The woman who sold a 17-year-old McKinney teen a lethal dose of fentanyl has been convicted of murder. Ciana Armour was sentenced to 25 years in prison. She is the first person in Collin County to be convicted of murder under a new fentanyl distribution law. McKINNEY, Texas - A Collin County family is feeling a sense of peace after the woman who gave their teenage son fentanyl was convicted of murder. It's the first murder conviction in Collin County under a new law aimed at targeting people who deal the highly potent drug. The backstory Lindsay Pultz's son, Mitchel, died from a fentanyl overdose on Sept. 18, 2023. The 17-year-old McKinney High School student had a passion for sports. But behind the curtain, he was struggling with a drug addiction. "To be honest, we didn't know what to do. We didn't know where to go. We didn't know how to get help," his mother said. The Pultzs tried counseling, inpatient facilities, and outpatient facilities. Then one day, Mitchel contacted 20-year-old Ciana Armour through Instagram and purchased what ended up being a lethal dose of fentanyl. What we know Armour was arrested and charged with murder. She pleaded guilty to the charge, making her case the first fentanyl murder conviction in Collin County under a new state law. Prosecutors can pursue murder charges when someone dies as a result of fentanyl distribution. Armour was sentenced to 25 years in prison. What they're saying This week, Pultz walked out of the Collin County courthouse with a sense of peace. "The stress has stopped. The constantly checking the status of the case has stopped," she said. She admits that she had hoped for a longer sentence, but the plea deal did remove some uncertainty. "We didn't have to deal with a trial. We didn't have to deal with appeals or, being the first case, how is the jury going to look at it or think about it," she said. Instead, one of the last things Armour heard before her jail time started was Pultz's impact statement in the courtroom. Pultz said over the last year, the tone in her script changed from anger to showing more grace, hoping instead that Mitchel's 17 years of life will be remembered. "I do think we got justice. I am very grateful. There is a lot of families in the same spot and they didn't have a detective look into it," she said. "We want people to see and hopefully change their mind dealing drugs. And dealing with fentanyl. It's not going to be a tiny drug charge anymore, it's going to be more than that." What's next Armour's sentence is 25 years. However, she will be eligible for parole in 12.5 years. Pultz plans to be there for that hearing. The Source FOX 4's Peyton Yager talked to Lindsay Pultz to gather details for this story. Additional information comes from Ciana Armour's plea agreement and the Collin County District Attorney's Office.
Yahoo
08-04-2025
- Yahoo
Frisco track meet stabbing suspect to seek reduction in bond, new charge
The Brief Frisco track meet stabbing suspect Karmelo Anthony's legal team wants his bond reduced and a new charge. The 17-year-old was charged with murder in the deadly stabbing of Austin Metcalf. Anthony is being held on $1 million bond. FRISCO, Texas - The legal team for Frisco murder suspect Karmelo Anthony will seek to lower his "excessive" $1 million bond and a new charge. Anthony, 17, was charged with murder after the stabbing of 17-year-old Austin Metcalf at a track meet last week. What they're saying Karmelo Anthony and his family's lawyers released a statement on Monday. "Karmelo and the entire Anthony family are sincerely saddened that a life was lost and offer their condolences to the family of Austin Metcalf," read the statement. They also called for people to "refrain from rushing to judgment" until all the facts in the case are out. "Karmelo, like all citizens of the United States, is entitled to a fair and impartial legal process; we are committed to ensuring that Karmelo's rights are indeed protected throughout each phase of the criminal justice system," said the legal team. Anthony's lawyers said they plan to talk with the Collin County District Attorney's Office about reducing Anthony's bond and "a better determination of the filed charge." The legal team says it will not make further public statements. Several GoFundMe campaigns for Anthony have been deleted by the platform. "GoFundMe's Terms of Service prohibit fundraisers for the legal defense of violent crimes. Consistent with this long-standing policy, any fundraisers for the legal defense of someone charged with a violent crime are removed from the platform and fully refunded," said a GoFundMe spokesperson in a statement. "Any GoFundMe account is not authorized or endorsed by the family. Please do not use GoFundMe for any donations to Karmelo Anthony's family," the Anthony family said in a statement. The family has set up an official page on the website GiveSendGo. Dig deeper 17-year-old Austin Metcalf, a junior at Memorial High School in Frisco, was killed at a UIL District 11-5A track meet at Kuykendall Stadium. Police said a student from Centennial High School in Frisco, 17-year-old Karmelo Anthony, stabbed Metcalf in the chest during a fight. An arrest report for Anthony said that Anthony told a school resource officer that Metcalf "put his hands" on him. After the officer mentioned to others that he had the alleged suspect in custody, the report states Anthony said, "I'm not alleged. I did it." The report states Anthony also asked the officers, "Is he going to be okay?" And he "asked if what happened could be considered self-defense." Witnesses told police that Anthony was sitting under the Memorial High School tent and was told to leave. Anthony allegedly told Metcalf "touch me and see what happens." One witness told police that Metcalf then pushed Anthony to get him out of the tent and Anthony reached into a bag and stabbed him. Anthony was arrested and is now charged with first-degree murder. He is in the Collin County jail on a $1 million bond. The Source Information in this article comes from lawyers for Karmelo Anthony and his family, Frisco police, Frisco ISD and Collin County court documents.
