Actor Alec Baldwin was practicing drawing the gun and aiming at the camera when the shot that killed the cinematographer occurred during the filming of a Western movie in the United States, according to U.S. media reports based on court documents. Director Joel Souza, who was shot in the shoulder, stood behind Halyna Hutchins. He stated that he heard what sounded like "a whip crack followed by a bang," according to the preliminary investigative report reviewed by NBC.
"Alec (Baldwin) was sitting in a chair amid a church set and was practicing drawing the gun," the document stated. The director was watching the scene from behind Hutchins. After the shot, the cinematographer pressed her stomach, as the director mentioned, indicating that she "began to fall backward" before they assisted her in "lying down." Photographer Reid Russell revealed that the scene was not recorded because the crew was preparing to shoot.
The "Rust" film crew had just returned from a lunch break, and the director said he was "not sure" if the gun underwent a new security check. Halyna Hutchins was shot in the chest by a bullet fired by Alec Baldwin from a weapon that was used as a prop in "Rust," according to the preliminary investigative report reviewed by Agence France-Presse. She was airlifted to a hospital in New Mexico, where she was declared dead. Director Joel Souza, who was injured in the shoulder during the incident, is currently recovering.
The tragedy occurred at the "Bonanza Creek Ranch," widely used for filming Westerns, which the police cordoned off, preventing entry. No criminal charges have been filed yet, according to a police spokesperson. Baldwin remained free after being questioned, with investigations centered on the possibility of accidental discharge.
It was also revealed that multiple complaints had been filed against assistant director Dave Halls, accusing him of ignoring safety protocols during the filming of scenes that involved weapons or potential fire hazards. Sources familiar with the situation, as reported by CNN, indicated that Halls had a known history of negligence, including inappropriate behavior towards female colleagues and complaints about unwanted physical contact.
A memorial for the late cinematographer Halyna Hutchins was held on Sunday evening in Burbank, a city near Los Angeles known as "the media capital of the world" due to the presence of several film and television studios. There was a somber atmosphere amid questions about how such an incident could occur. In a statement read during a candlelight vigil for Hutchins, Matt Hutchins described the loss of his wife as a "shattering blow."
A petition on change.org calling for a ban on real firearms on filming sets and improved working conditions has garnered over 24,000 signatures as of Monday. Baldwin (63) stated on Friday that he was "shocked and deeply saddened" by Hutchins' death.
Reports in the media and on social media raised questions about safety procedures during the filming of the low-budget movie, especially following the departure of several crew members for a break just hours before the incident. In one concerning report, TMZ cited anonymous production sources stating that the gun handed to Baldwin had previously been used by crew members for target practice with live ammunition.
The investigation into the circumstances of the incident is ongoing, focusing on the armorer and assistant director, particularly on the role of Hannah Gutierrez Reed (24), the armorer on the set, as she prepared the firearm from which the fatal shot was fired. She placed it in a cart with two other weapons. The assistant director, Dave Halls, known for his experience in the field, handed the weapon to Baldwin while he was practicing a scene, indicating that it was "cold," meaning it was not loaded with live rounds according to film industry terminology. Halls was reportedly unaware that the firearm was loaded with live ammunition, as stated in a Santa Fe police report. After the shot, the weapon was returned to Gutierrez Reed, who took the used bullet and handed it to the police upon their arrival, according to the report.
