A coroner's inquest into the fatal shooting of a mentally ill homeless man began Monday with testimony from the Vancouver police officer who gunned him down.

Michael Vann Hubbard, 58, was shot in the abdomen on March 20, 2009 after being stopped by two officers investigating the theft of a black knapsack.

Police approached him in the 500-block of Homer Street after spotting him rummaging through a similar-looking bag. It was later determined not to be stolen.

Testifying before an inquest jury Monday, Const. Estilize Wicks recounted a tense confrontation that erupted after police asked to inspect Vann Hubbard's knapsack, and which left her fearing for her life.

"He looked directly at me with what we call the 1,000-mile stare…. right through me," Wicks said.

Vann Hubbard allegedly pulled a utility knife from his bag, extended the blade and began lunging at the officers, neither of whom was equipped with non-fatal weapons such as Tasers or pepper spray.

"I started moving back with my firearm pointed at Mr. Vann Hubbard yelling ‘Please drop the knife,'" Wicks said.

"He began moving rapidly towards me and closed the distance between us…I fired the shot. He dropped right at my feet."

Witnesses also reported hearing Hubbard screaming and telling the officers to shoot him.

An independent investigation conducted by Abbotsford police recommended that no charges be laid against either officer involved.

But the family has always maintained that the officers used excessive force, launching a wrongful death suit against the Vancouver Police Department as well as an official complaint against Chief Jim Chu for an internal memo he sent indicating the shooting was justified.

The Pivot Legal Society, which is representing the Vann Hubbards, says the death also raises serious concerns about the training police receive for dealing with the mentally ill, an issue that will be explored later in the inquest.

The first of three scheduled days of hearings focused on testimony from police and witnesses, while future days will feature medical reports, use of force analyses and testimony from Vann Hubbard's daughter, Kimberly.

The rest of his family lives in the U.S., but will participate via conference call.