D.A. Concludes Fatal Police Shooting Was in Self-Defense

An Orange County district attorney’s office investigation into the shooting death of a Garden Grove man by a police officer earlier this year has determined that the shooting was in self-defense.

Deputy Dist. Atty. Dan McNerney, who headed the investigation, said his office sent a letter Tuesday to Garden Grove Police Chief Joe Polisar outlining the ruling.

“Absent any new information, . . . it is our conclusion the shooting was justified,” McNerney said.

Investigations are routine in police-involved shootings.

Hao Dinh Vu, 34, a Vietnamese immigrant who moved to Orange County from Ho Chi Minh City in 1991, was killed when he lunged at police officers with a knife, according to authorities.

Several witnesses reported seeing Vu running from police with a knife in his hand. They said an officer yelled at Vu to drop the knife, then fired several shots, killing Vu.

The incident happened at about noon July 2 in front of Sunnyside Elementary School in Garden Grove. School was out and no children were present.

The officer, who was not identified, was put on administrative leave after the shooting.

Polisar said Tuesday his department conducted a separate investigation and found that the officer had followed the agency’s policy and procedures. He said a lawsuit filed by Vu’s family prevented him from discussing the case in detail.

“It is tragic whenever human life is lost,” Polisar said. “We have been meeting with members of the Vietnamese American community and representatives of the family. We’ve tried to keep the information flowing.”

Vu’s death outraged some Vietnamese Americans, who described him as a peaceful man who loved the simpler things in life. Vu’s family retained an attorney who has vowed to initiate his own probe into the incident.

Neither the attorney nor Vu’s family members could be reached for comment Tuesday.