Man fatally shot by S.F. police was mentally ill

A knife-wielding man who was fatally shot by officers in his home in San Francisco's Portola neighborhood had a history of mental illness, police said Thursday.

The medical examiner's office identified him as 46-year-old Vinh Bui. The two officers who shot him were placed on administrative leave during an investigation, but Police Chief George Gascón said he believes they acted legally.

Police were called to the home on the 600 block of Bacon Street on Wednesday afternoon with a report that the man had stabbed a young woman. The stabbing victim and others in the home pointed out where he was, and when the two officers found him, he advanced on them with a knife in his hand, said Lt. Lyn Tomioka, a police spokeswoman.

The officers backed up, repeatedly ordered the man to drop the weapon, and fired only after he came at them with his arm raised, Tomioka said.

Bui was taken to San Francisco General Hospital, where he died Wednesday evening. The stabbing victim was not seriously injured, police said.

Gascón said Bui "has had a history of mental illness." In response to a question, the chief observed that the officers had no alternative except gunfire because San Francisco police are not equipped with Tasers.

"There are tools out there that would probably give our officers another option," said Gascón, who has lobbied unsuccessfully to add stun guns to his force's arsenal.

The city's Police Commission voted 4-3 in April to deny Gascón's request. Opponents said Tasers do not promote public safety and have led to an increased incidence of in-custody fatal shootings during their first year of use in other California cities.