Informed sources in Hollywood reported that the assistant director who handed actor Alec Baldwin the firearm that resulted in the death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins during a rehearsal for a scene in the film "Rust" last week had previously been dismissed from a prior film due to his involvement in an incident involving a firearm.
New details are still emerging about the tragic incident that shook Hollywood. One producer from the film "Freedom's Path," produced in 2019, told the "Associated Press" that assistant director David Halls was let go from that project after a crew member sustained minor injuries "during the accidental discharge of a weapon." The source noted that "Halls was immediately expelled from set after the gun went off. The production team did not resume filming until David was gone."
During the filming of the western "Rust," Halls handed Alec Baldwin a firearm that was supposed to be unloaded for a rehearsal scene. However, a live round was accidentally discharged, resulting in the death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins and injuring director Joel Souza. The entertainment news website "The Wrap" reported, citing sources familiar with the filming of "Rust," that the weapon that killed Halyna Hutchins had been used hours earlier by crew members to shoot at cans.
Strict industry rules prohibit the presence of any live ammunition on set, particularly to prevent such incidents. According to an initial investigation report, Halyna Hutchins was shot in the chest by a bullet fired by Alec Baldwin from a prop gun used in "Rust." She was airlifted to a hospital in New Mexico where she was pronounced dead. Meanwhile, director Joel Souza, who was injured in the shoulder during the incident, is on the road to recovery.
