Deadly Shooting with a Prop Gun on Alec Baldwin’s ‘Rust’ Movie Set

Posted on by

SANTA FE, N.M.- Deadly shooting on Alec Baldwins new movie set ‘Rust’ on Thursday, Oct. 21. Baldwin plays a part as a western outlaw named Harland Rust, where the character finds himself in a small church, cornered by a sheriff and a U.S. Marshal, Rust then decides to shoot his way out.

Baldwin was practicing the scene where he drew a Colt .45 revolver from his holster as the camera had a close-up, according to the affidavit signed to Detective Joel Cano of the Santa Fe County sheriff’s office, Baldwin and his crew was sure that the gun was not loaded,

The prop gun was shot but was loaded and hit by the film director of photography Halyna Hutchins and director Joel Souza. Hutchins was hit in the chest and was airlifted to the hospital. Souza was wounded but wasn’t in the hospital for long, officials said.

Hutchins died on the way to the airport, officials said. She was 42, with a husband Matthew Hutchins and they shared a 9-year-old son Andros.

Halyna Hutchins

Hannah Gutierrez Reed, the member on the set in charge of weapons, told investigators she checked the gun and found no rounds before the shooting.

Assistant director Dave Halls, 62, grabbed the gun and took it on set to Baldwin, according to the affidavit, and told him it was a “Cold Gun”- which means it has no live ammunition- didn’t know that the gun had live rounds.

Police Statement

Santa Fe County Sheriff Adan Mendoza conducted a news conference to discuss the ongoing investigation in the fatal shooting on the set of ‘Rust.”

“Over the last three days, our investigative team has been working diligently to conduct interviews, execute search warrants and collect and process evidence from the scene,” Mendoza said.

Three individuals handled the gun on the set. Hannah Reed, Alec Baldwin, and Dave Halls. Each has provided statements.

“Through the execution of search warrants we have collected about 600 items of evidence”, Mendoza said. “These include three firearms, 500 rounds of ammunition, and several pieces of clothing and accessories.”

Mendoza believes they have the spent shell casing of the bullet that was fired from the gun.

“All the previously mentioned items will be submitted to the FBI crime lab in Quantico, Virginia for analysis,” Mendoza said.

Charges are still being reviewed in the investigation.

“In reference to possible charges, it’s too early to right now In the investigation to comment on charges at this point, the investigation will continue,” Mendoza said.

Alec Baldwin Speaks Out

In a video posted by TMZ to their website Saturday, Oct. 31. Baldwin and his wife Hilaria Baldwin were shown on camera in Manchester, VT.

Baldwin told the paparazzi that he is not allowed to talk about the details of the shooting that occurred on “Rust”.

“I’m not allowed to make any comments because its an ongoing investigation,” Baldwin told the paparazzi. “I’ve been ordered by the Santa Fe Sheriffs Department. I can’t answer any questions about the investigation.”

Baldwin talks about Hutchins.

“She was my friend, the day I arrived in Santa Fe to start shooting I took her to dinner with Joel the director.”

Baldwin said that he met with Hutchins husband and her 9-year-old son after the incident.

“The guy is overwhelmed with grief,” Baldwin said. “There are incidental accidents on film sets from time to time, but nothing like this. This is a one in a trillion episode.”

Baldwin says he’s interested in the limit of firearms on set.

“Something that I think is important and that is how many bullets have been fired in films and TV shows in the last 75 years? This is America. How many bullets have gone off, billions, nearly all of them without injury”, Baldwin said to TMZ.

Baldwin now looking towards a change in the industry.

“So, what has to happen now is, we have to realize when it does go wrong and it’s this horrible, catastrophic thing, some new measures have to take place,” Baldwin said. “Rubber guns, plastic guns, no live, no real guns.”

When asked about production starting up again for ‘Rust’

“No, I doubt it”.

When asked about why Vermont?

“It’s private.”

Baldwin addresses the paparazzi

“So, do me a favor if you don’t mind, my kids are in the car crying. As a courtesy to you, I came to talk to you, I’m not allowed to comment about the investigation, I talk to the cops every day. My point is would you please just not follow us.”

George Clooney Speaks on ‘Rust’ Incident

George Clooney Oscar-winning actor spoke out on the ‘Rust’ incident calling it “infuriating” and blames producers for not hiring experienced weapon experts.

Starts at 36:00 WTF Podcast with Marc Maron

“Every time I’m handed a gun on set I look, I open it show it to the person I’m pointing it at, we show it to the crew,” Clooney said. “Every single take, and maybe Alec did that and hopefully he did do that.”

George then said to Maron he was confused on why they would use this prop gun

“And why for the life of me, this low-budget film with producers that haven’t produced anything wouldn’t have hired someone for the armour with experience.” Clooney Said

Clooney speaks on the armorer.

“They had live rounds with dummies in her pack and that is insane, It’s infuriating.”