Man tells movie-goers to leave minutes before he's shot dead

A San Francisco man told fellow movie-goers to leave the cinema because he was about to die minutes before he was fatally shot.

Idris Stelley was shot dead by police at the Sony Metreon cinema after he tried to attack officers with a knife.

Cinema attendants called officers when he showed them a knife.

Inspector Holly Pera of San Francisco police said Stelley also told his girlfriend to leave.

"He kissed her, and told her to go home. He told her he was going to die tonight," she said.

Stelley's girlfriend went to call his mother for help, according to reports.

Before police arrived Stelley stood on his chair and shouted at the audience: "If you want to see your loved ones go home now. I am going to die tonight."

The customers fled and when police arrived they could not persuade Stelley to put down his knife.

He was shot 20 times after he attacked an officer who was wearing a bullet proof vest.

Officers said the 23-year-old student had a history of psychiatric problems.