Video Captures Frightening Moment Oregon Museum Staffer Is Taken Hostage

— -- The Deschutes County District Attorney's Office in Bend, Oregon, has released horrifying cellphone video that it says shows a man grabbing and threatening the life of a female museum worker before he was eventually shot by police.

On May 31, around 3 p.m., police were called to the High Desert Museum with a report of a man holding a female hostage, District Attorney John Hummel said in a statement Wednesday.

Cellphone video as well as audio from 911 dispatch traffic were also released.

"It's a male versus female. It's physical. He's threatening to kill her...he's holding her arm under her neck," a 911 dispatcher tells officers in the recording. "We're getting information. The male is going to the back door, apparently dragging the female...the museum is being evacuated at this time."

Authorities identified the man as 36-year-old Nicholas Berger and said he'd recently moved to Bend.

Hummel said that Berger, a visitor to the museum, had gone into the museum's gift shop armed and "for unknown reasons" grabbed museum staffer Amanda Berry, 39, at knifepoint. There is no evidence that Berry and Berger previously knew each other but authorities are investigating.

In the cellphone video, Berger could be seen dragging Berry by her hair, across the museum floor, as bystanders watched and tried to help.

"Please calm down, sir," Berry could be heard saying. "Ouch! [You're] hurting me. Please, let me go. You don't have to do this."

"Get up! Get up or I'm going to f------ kill you!" Berger could be heard saying on the video as he held Berry in a chokehold.

Hummel said during a June 1 news conference that Berger and Berry moved through various museum exhibits before finally reaching a building exit.

"It was a violent struggle," Hummel said. "The fight inside of her was darn impressive. She was grabbing onto handrails to prevent herself from being taken away. She believed, and I believe as well, if Mr. Berger got her out of that building, she would not be with us today."

As they neared an exit, with Berry still fighting for her life, bystanders intervened and were able to talk Berger into releasing her. Berger then left the building.

Authorities said that Oregon State Police senior trooper Richard Brannin then "encountered" Berger who was armed with a knife.

"This encounter ended with Brannin shooting Berger," the statement said. Hummel said a Taser had first been used by Brannin before he fired three shots at Berger.

Brannin has been with the Oregon State Police for 13 years and is stationed in the Bend Office.

Hummel said his office as well as the Central Oregon Major Crimes Team were still investigating the incident.

"Amanda Berry and her husband thank their friends and family for the support they have provided during thisdifficult time in their lives and request that the media respect their privacy as they continue to heal from thistraumatic event," he said.