DA releases Bend museum assault video, IDs trooper who shot man
Deschutes County District Attorney John Hummel released more details Wednesday in last week’s assault and fatal shooting at Bend’s High Desert Museum, including cellphone video and 911 recordings.
He also identified the museum staff member who was attacked and the Oregon State Police trooper who shot and killed the assailant, a Bend man, minutes after the woman was released.
Hummel posted the video and audio on the district attorney’s YouTube page.
Here is Hummel’s statement in full
At 3:25 PM on Tuesday, May 31 st , a 911 call was placed from the High Desert Museum.
The 911 caller reported that a man was holding a female and threatening to kill her. That man was 36 year-old Nicholas Berger. For unknown reasons, Berger, a patron at the museum, while in the museum gift-shop, grabbed 39-year-old Amanda Berry, a resident of Deschutes County and an employee of the museum.
In spite of Berger’s huge size and immense strength, Berry successfully fought for her life. Some of her struggle was captured on a cell phone video that was shot by a museum patron.
Today, District Attorney Hummel released to the public a cellphone video and the audio recording of 911 dispatch radio traffic with the Oregon State Police (radio traffic between 911 and Deschutes County Sheriff’s deputies will be available at this same link this evening).
You’ll note on the video that four people approach Berger, at great risk to their personal safety, in an effort to attempt to protect Berry. Their actions resulted in Berger releasing Berry, who then ran for her safety.
Shortly after Berry was released, OSP Senor Trooper Richard Brannin arrived on scene and encountered Berger who was armed with a knife. This encounter ended with Brannin shooting Berger.
Senior Trooper Brannin has 13 years’ experience, all of it with the Oregon State Police. He is currently stationed out of the Bend Office for the Oregon State Police.
District Attorney Hummel and the Central Oregon Major Crimes Team continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the abduction of Berry and the shooting of Berger.
At the conclusion of the investigation, Hummel will hold a press conference to announce further findings, release the remaining evidence, and explain his legal conclusion regarding the appropriateness of Senior Trooper Brannin’s decision to shoot Berger.
Amanda Berry and her husband thank their friends and family for the support they have provided during this difficult time in their lives and request that the media respect their privacy as they continue to heal from this traumatic event.
