Alec Baldwin, the anti-gun actor, fatally show a cinematographer and a director on the set of his newest film, ‘Rust’ with a prop gun.
The cinematographer, 42-year-old Halyna Hutchins, died as a result of the incident, while 48-year-old director Joel Souza was wounded in the shoulder.
The statement from the Santa Fe Sheriff’s department reads;
“The sheriff’s office confirms that two individuals were shot on the set of Rust. Halyna Hutchins, 42, director of photography and Joel Souza, 48, director, were shot when a prop firearm was discharged by Alec Baldwin, 68, producer and actor.
“Ms. Hutchins was transported, via helicopter, to University of New Mexico Hospital where she was pronounced dead by medical personnel. Mr. Souza was transported by ambulance to Christus St. Vincent Regional Medical center where he is undergoing treatment for his injuries.”
“This investigation remains open and active. No charges have been filed in regard to this incident. Witnesses continue to be interviewed by detectives. Hutchins, 42, died not long after being transported to a hospital in Albuquerque, NM this afternoon. Souza, 48, remains in a local hospital; his condition is unknown.”
During the filming of Rust Baldwin, who is a writer, co-producer, and starred as the lead role, was handed a prop gun that had been loaded with a live round.
According to SFReporter:
“The film crew’s armorer had laid three “prop guns” out on a rolling cart, and the film’s assistant director grabbed one for the rehearsal and handed it to Baldwin. (Though the armorer and the assistant director are named in the affidavit, SFR is not identifying them because neither has been accused or charged with a crime.)
That’s when the assistant director signaled to those gathered for the rehearsal that there was no live ammunition in the gun by shouting: “Cold gun.”
The assistant director “did not know live rounds were in the prop-gun,” Cano wrote in the affidavit.”
Baldwin is a known anti-gun, rabid liberal. In 2017 he tweeted about an officer-involved shooting that has not aged well, at all.
Maybe he can answer that question now?
The set apparently had problems going on before Alec Baldwin accidentally killed Hutchins and wounded Souza. Hours before the incident union workers walked off the set to protest their working conditions. The crew disputed with the film’s producers over pay and travel arrangements.
The LA Times reported that while the camera crew set up their equipment on Thursday non-union workers showed up to replace them. One of the producers ordered the union members to leave the set and threatened to call security to remove them if they didn’t leave voluntarily.
The article quoted an anonymous source who claimed, “Corners were being cut — and they brought in nonunion people so they could continue shooting.”
The source also stated that there had been two misfires from the prop gun on Saturday and another misfire the week before.
“There was a serious lack of safety meetings on this set,” they continued.
Rust Movie Productions LLC responded to the Times report in a statement denying knowledge of any labor dispute.
“The safety of our cast and crew is the top priority of Rust Productions and everyone associated with the company, ” said the company. “Though we were not made aware of any official complaints concerning weapon or prop safety on set, we will be conducting an internal review of our procedures while production is shut down. We will continue to cooperate with the Santa Fe authorities in their investigation and offer mental health services to the cast and crew during this tragic time.”
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