Manchester synagogue attack victim died after being shot in the chest by armed police

Adrian Daulby died from a single gunshot wound to the chest from an armed police officer during a terror attack on a synagogue by Jihad Al-Shamie, Manchester Coroner’s Court heard.

The 53-year-old man was one of two victims killed in the attack on the Jewish holiday of Yom Kippur on October 2.

The other was 66-year-old Melvin Cravitz.

The inquest into the deaths of the two men opened in Manchester on Wednesday before being adjourned.

It was heard that Cravitz died from multiple stab wounds inflicted by Shamie.

The 35-year-old killer was on bail for rape at the time of the attack.

The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC), the police watchdog, has launched an investigation into the fatal shooting by armed officers who opened fire on Shamie within seven minutes of the initial 999 call.

The inquest heard Daulby, described as a “silent hero”, jumped from his seat to close the doors of the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue when he was attacked.

Shamie had kept the main doors of the synagogue closed as he tried to force his way in to continue his rampage.

Chief Supt Lewis Hughes, of Greater Manchester Police (GMP), told the hearing that Daulby was shot in the chest behind a door when an armed officer opened fire and was pronounced dead at the scene at 10.15am.

Moments earlier, Cravitz, a father of three, died after being stabbed by Shamie, a Syrian-born British national who began his attack by driving his Kia Picanto into security guards and the outer gates of the synagogue at around 9.30am.

Shamie then attacked with a knife and tried to attack the synagogue wearing a fake suicide belt, before being shot dead by armed police.

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Again giving brief details of the situation to the court, Mr Hughes said Shamie had driven his car, then got out to attack worshipers.

He said: “The offender exited the vehicle with a knife in hand and immediately made stabbing movements towards Mr Cravitz’s upper body, head and neck area.”

Members of the Community and Community Safety Trust (CST) administered first aid and CPR and the victim was taken to Manchester Royal Infirmary where he was pronounced dead at 10.45am.

Judge Alexia Durran, chief coroner for England and Wales, who presided over the trial, said her provisional findings were that Cravitz died from stab wounds and Daulby died from a gunshot wound.

The hearing, which lasted approximately 45 minutes, was later postponed to February 18, 2026 for pre-investigation review.