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Policeman Rigoberto was shot in the back

– It was incredibly uncomfortable. I have never been so scared, says Joanne to TV 2.

She is back outside Coop Extra at Kongsberg. Five days have passed since the shocking experience on Wednesday night.

Joanne had been to dinner with the parents of Rigoberto Villarroel (48) and was to pick up their five-year-old daughter.

The apartment where they were is located in the same building as Coop Extra.

– When we got out of there, I put my daughter in the car outside, but at the same time I saw that he (Rigoberto, journ.anm.) Went straight to the entrance to the store, McGregor says.

“A crazy man who shoots”

Both Joanne and Rigoberto have lived in Kongsberg for a long time. Many people recognize Rigoberto as the city’s Chilean policeman, and Joanne therefore thought that someone had just wanted to strike up a conversation with him.

Eventually, however, she decided to get the five-year-old out of the car and follow.

A car was parked at the corner of the building, and the woman in the car shouted at her to get away. “It’s a crazy man who shoots,” she shouted.

– At the same time, I spotted a lady on the other side of the road holding on to her arm. I waved her over to me, and then I saw that she had a real hole in her arm, as if she had been shot, says Joanne.

Went into the store

Together with the daughter and the injured woman, the 41-year-old hurried back the 15-20 meters to the car, but because Rigoberto had the keys, she could not drive away.

The policeman had in fact entered the shop at the same time as he called police officers at work.

WAS SHOT: Rigoberto Villarroel has been a policeman at Kongsberg for many years.  But on Wednesday he had time off.  The Chilean policeman was then shot in the back.

WAS SHOT: Rigoberto Villarroel has been a policeman at Kongsberg for many years. But on Wednesday he had time off. The Chilean policeman was then shot in the back. Photo: Lars Nyland / TV 2

For the sake of the investigation, Rigoberto does not wish to comment on the incident at this time. He has nevertheless agreed that TV 2 uses his name.

– I do not know everything about what he experienced in there, but he was shot in the back with an arrow. Still, he ran around helping others and getting people to safety. He is really, really tough, says Joanne.

– Completely pale

Carrying her daughter, Joanne moved towards the car again. She also tried to inform the injured woman that she could sit down.

– But she did not want to. She was very upset, completely pale, says Joanne.

It was 18.20 at this time, and it has been two minutes since the first police officers on the spot met Espen Andersen Bråthen for the first time.

But shortly after, the police lost sight of him, and the 37-year-old got out of the grocery store.

WAS AIMED: The perpetrator picked up the arrow and tightened it.  In the middle of the sight stood Joanne.

WAS AIMED: The perpetrator picked up the arrow and tightened it. In the middle of the sight stood Joanne. Photo: Lars Nyland / TV 2

– Suddenly the door slammed open, and he (the perpetrator, journ.anm) jumped out. The seconds passed very slowly. Then he pulled up an arrow and aimed straight at me, says Joanne.

– Tossed me in front of the car

But Bråthen missed.

– I know he tried to shoot me, but I managed to throw myself in front of the car. I sat there thinking: Now he’s coming to kill me. It was incredibly uncomfortable and I have never been so scared before.

The thoughts immediately wandered to the daughter who was sitting in the car.

– I was afraid of her too, but he never came – fortunately.

Instead, the perpetrator set course for Hyttegata. In the course of half an hour, the police believe that the 37-year-old went on the attack and killed five random victims.

Again in the parking lot, Joanne was terrified.

– Suddenly a colleague of mine shows up. It was so good to see him, but at the same time I was afraid that he would be hurt. But when he came away, I realized that the perpetrator had disappeared.

“Come in!”

The colleague helped Joanne to get her and her daughter safe. On the way, they met a group of nurses who were on their way out for a walk with some patients.

– Then we just had to shout: “Come in! There’s a man shooting here!

Johanne and her daughter finally recovered in safety. Then the phone rang.

AFRAID OF LIFE: While the drama was going on, Joanne put her five-year-old daughter inside the car.

AFRAID OF LIFE: While the drama was going on, Joanne put her five-year-old daughter inside the car. Photo: Lars Nyland / TV 2

– It was Rigoberto who called and told that he had been shot. I was terrified, but I heard that he was doing well.

At 18.47, the unreal drama on Kongsberg was over, and the police had managed to arrest the perpetrator.

– It was very good to know that he was caught. But at the same time there was a lot of speculation, lots of police forces and ambulances. Some said there were several perpetrators, because you never know what is going on, says Joanne.

– Absolutely unreal

After a while, they went to the emergency room and met Rigoberto again.

– I tried to hide that he was shot for my daughter, thought maybe it was traumatic for her to see it.

A GOOD HUG: For Rigoberto, it is good to be back with the daughters again, after the dramatic experience.

A GOOD HUG: For Rigoberto, it is good to be back with the daughters again, after the dramatic experience. Photo: Lars Nyland / TV 2

Seeing the arrow stand out from the back of the daughter’s father, she describes as completely unreal.

– I am incredibly happy that he has done well. We were incredibly worried. But he is a tough guy, and a hero.

The civilian policeman was sent to Drammen hospital, where after a few hours he had surgery to remove the arrow in his back.

Five days after the traumatic experience, Joanne is still in shock.

– It’s a strain, and I do not think I have taken in what happened.

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