SANTA FE– Alec Baldwin shot a cinematographer while filming in New Mexico. He was carrying a gun that a crew member had told him was safe. This tragic incident occurred hours after workers walked out of the set to protest production conditions.
According to court records, Dave Halls, an assistant director, took a prop gun from a desert ranch and gave it to Baldwin during Thursday’s rehearsal for “Rust.”
Halls shouted “Cold gun!” declaring that the weapon didn’t have live ammunition and was ready for fire.
It wasn’t. Baldwin accidentally killed Halyna Hutchins, 42-year old cinematographer, and injured Joel Souza who was standing behind her in a chapel-like wooden building.
Santa Fe County Regional Emergency Communications Center released a recording of a 911 call that alerted authorities about the shooting at Bonanza Creek Ranch, Santa Fe. It hints at panic on the set.
Mamie Mitchell, script supervisor, told an emergency dispatcher that two people were accidentally shot by a prop gun. “We were practicing and the prop gun went off. I ran to get help, so we all ran.”
The dispatcher wanted to know if the gun was loaded using a real bullet.
“I can’t tell you. Mitchell responded, “We have two injuries.” Mitchell replied, “And this (expletive AD) (assistant director), that yelled at my lunch, asking about revisions He’s supposed check the guns. He is responsible for everything that happens on the set.
Halls did not respond to email and phone messages seeking comment immediately. Hannah Gutierrez, film’s armorer, was not available to the Associated Press. Several messages were sent to “Rust” production companies but did not receive any responses on Friday.
According to court records, the gun Baldwin used was one among three Gutierrez’s guns that he had placed on a cart outside the building in which a scene was being rehearsed. Halls took the gun from the cart and brought the firearm inside to Baldwin. He was not aware that the firearm contained live rounds. This detective filed a search warrant application.
It is not known how many rounds were fired. Gutierrez took out a shell casing and turned it over to police upon arrival, according to court records.
Sometimes, guns used to make movies can be real weapons. They can fire bullets or blanks. These are gunpowder charges which produce a flash and bang but no deadly projectile.
Mitchell, the script supervisor, said to The Associated Press that she was right next to Hutchins at the time the cinematographer hit.
