Police chief backs officers who shot man with knife

File photo / AAP

Senior Victorian police are defending two officers who shot dead a man who was lunging at them with a knife early yesterday.

The death of the 30-year-old man shot in the head by police is now the subject of multiple investigations by the homicide squad, the police Ethical Standards Department, and the coroner.

A spokesman for the Office of Police Integrity said the police watchdog would also look into the matter.

Police Chief Commissioner Simon Overland said the events leading up to the shooting unfolded rapidly, leaving the officers with little option but to open fire.

"I believe my officers behaved entirely appropriately as I would expect them to behave and, unfortunately, they had little alternative to do other than that which they did," Overland said yesterday.

The officers stepped out of their patrol vehicle after spotting two men suspected of being involved in an earlier stabbing at the Gatwick Hotel in nearby Fitzroy St, a busy strip of cafes, restaurants and bars.

Assistant Commissioner Luke Cornelius said the knife-wielding man was told repeatedly to drop the knife but he continued to advance and lunged at the officers, who opened fire.

Witnesses at a backpackers hostel just 20m from the shooting in Grey St, St Kilda, reported hearing yelling before three shots.

New Zealand tourist Paul was in the foyer of Coffee Palace Backpackers when he heard the shots fired.

"There were three gunshots, then the body was in the middle of the road, and then everyone else was on the floor and the cops had their guns out making sure no one was moving," he said.

"I heard someone screaming ... then they [the police] were telling everyone else to get on the ground."

A Grey St resident said he heard yelling and banging before the incident.

"It sounded like a window breaking and a policeman yelled out: 'Don't f'n move' and then we heard at least one gunshot," the man, who gave his name as Justin, told ABC radio.

Neither Cornelius nor Overland would comment on whether capsicum spray was used in the confrontation, but confirmed the officers were not carrying Taser stun guns.

Tasers are being tested in Bendigo and Morwell but are not generally available to police.

However, Overland was adamant that Tasers would not have made a difference in the circumstances.

"Tasers were not a good option or a viable option given the circumstances that my officers were confronted with," Overland said.

- AAP