'Paranoid' knife-wielding man died after he was lawfully restrained by shopkeepers, inquest jury concludes

A 'paranoid' man died of heart failure after he ran into a shop with a knife believing he was being chased - and had to be 'appropriately and lawfully' restrained by terrified staff in front of shocked customers, a jury inquest has concluded.

Muhammedou Mahrie Kinteh, a married man known as Pa Kinteh, 45, died hours after he ran into a shop in Bolton armed with two knives and struggled against two shopkeepers who restrained him.

Mr Kinteh, from Kearsley in Bolton, ran from a friend's home after taking two knives from the kitchen in an 'agitated paranoid' manner and went into a convenience store where he told staff he needed help as he was 'being chased by people who wanted to kill him', an inquest into his death has found. His behaviour that afternoon was said to be 'out of character'.

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One of the shopkeepers dialled 999, while a second shopkeeper could see nobody was pursuing Mr Kinteh when he looked outside the shop on St James Street in New Bury. The two shopkeepers 'reassured' him and urged him 'to calm down', the court heard.

Mr Kinteh went into the stockroom and behind the counter and ignored requests to remain in the public area of the shop before using one of the knives, said to have a three or four inch blade, to stab a cardboard box, the inquest was told.

The incident prompted the shopkeepers to 'fear he may use the knife to injure them', the jury at the inquest at Bolton Coroners' Court concluded.

Mr Kinteh moved 'fully' behind the counter and stood close to one of the shopkeepers with the knife in his hand before picking up and throwing a number of items including two glass bottles, one of which smashed on the floor beside customers, the inquest was told.

When he picked up a third glass bottle, one of the shopkeepers 'intervened as he was scared for the other shopkeeper and the customers' safety', the jury found.

The shopkeeper who intervened 'appropriately and lawfully detained' Mr Kinteh by taking him to the ground, gripping the man's wrists and placing his knee over one of his ankles, according to a record of inquest of the jury's findings released following the hearing.

"During this time, the shopkeepers removed the knife from his hand and continued urging Mr Kinteh to calm down reassuring him that the police were on their way but Mr Kinteh continued to verbally communicate and struggle in an attempt to free himself," said the document.

When police arrived, they found Mr Kinteh still being restrained in the shop and officers handcuffed him in the 'front stack' position, which the court ruled was 'appropriate'.

The officers then moved Mr Kinteh into the recovery position when they saw he was not responding and 'decided he was not breathing', the court heard.

The jury concluded: "The police officers checked Mr Kinteh, removed a further kitchen knife which they found in his pocket before removing the handcuffs, requesting urgent ambulance assistance over the radio and thereafter began chest compressions in an effort to resuscitate him. The police officers acted in a satisfactory and timely manner following their protocols and their first aid training."

When paramedics arrived, they took over attempts to resuscitate Mr Kinteh who they believed was in cardiac arrest. The court heard the prospect of surviving 'asystole' outside a hospital is 0.2 per cent.

The court heard the paramedics' efforts were hindered by Mr Kinteh's presentation, including that his jaw was 'clenched almost shut'. Mr Kinteh's heart began beating again but on the way to hospital in an ambulance he went cardiac arrest a second time, the court was told.

Despite further attempts to to revive him at hospital, Mr Kinteh was confirmed dead at 4.15pm. The care provided by paramedics and hospital staff was 'exemplary', said the jury.

Recording a narrative verdict, area coroner Peter Sigee said Mr Kinteh's death was caused by 'acute myocardial insufficiency due the pathophysiological stress of an incident on May 3, 2018, interacting with cocaine toxicity and coronary artery atheroma'.

He added: "This incident had several component parts each of which did have a causative effect upon the death, including the physical effort running and throwing items, the stress of believing that he was being chased and in fear of his life, the stress of being appropriately and lawfully restrained and the effort of him struggling against that restraint."

After the hearing, Gambia-born Mr Kinteh's family said in a statement: "Those who were fortunate enough to cross paths with Pa knew him as more than just a nice person; he was a pillar of support, a beacon of hope, and a true friend to all. His commitment to helping others extended beyond borders, as he dedicated himself to supporting children in the Gambia through a training school for boxing. Pa's generosity knew no limits, and his legacy of giving continues to uplift and inspire countless lives."