Alec Baldwin shooting – latest: Police to hold news conference as charges remain ‘on the table,’ report says

A principal actor on Rust has said that a scene where he was shot at in the movie felt “life-threatening”.

Ian A Hudson, who played an outlaw in the film, recalled an experience on set when he was exposed to gunfire while the camera and crew were protected by a shield.

“That made me question me being in front of the camera and being between all of that fire. When the rounds were released I did feel the blanks hitting my face and my body,” Hudson told TMZ.

Safety practices on the set of Rust are being investigated by authorities in New Mexico after cinematographer Halyna Hutchins was shot dead on the set on Thursday.

Alec Baldwin, an actor and producer on Rust, had been practising a “cross-draw” weapons firing technique and was aiming at a camera when a prop gun went off, killing Hutchins and wounding director Joel Souza.

Since the incident, it has emerged that the assistant director who handed Baldwin the gun that killed Hutchins had been sacked from a film in 2019 after a prop gun accidentally fired on the set of the movie Freedom’s Path, injuring a crew member.

Authorities in Sante Fe have released statements by Rust director Joel Souza and a cameraman who said last week’s accidental shooting happened during a scene filmed inside a mock church.

On Sunday, hundreds attended a vigil for cinematographer Hutchins in Albuquerque, New Mexico. An investigation into the shooting is continuing.

Read More

Alec Baldwin shooting: Witnesses say they complained previously about assistant director’s unsafe practices

Rust: Alec Baldwin ‘discharged’ gun that killed one and injured another on movie set

Halyna Hutchins and Joel Souza: What we know about the victims of the Alec Baldwin Rust shooting

​​Donald Trump Jr sells T-shirts mocking Alec Baldwin set shooting

Key Points

• Rust assistant director was fired from a movie set in 2019 following gun incident

• Hilaria Baldwin has made her first public comments since the shooting on set of Rust

• Alec Baldwin comforts Halyna Hutchins’s family after fatal shooting

• Alec Baldwin was ‘very careful’ with guns prior to shooting accident, says cameraman

• Director wasn’t certain if the gun being used was checked for safety, according to affidavit

• Witnesses say they complained previously about assistant director’s unsafe practices

Twitter celebrates Halyna Hutchins’ artistry

01:00 , Nathan Place

Following the death of Halyna Hutchins, some on social media are celebrating her work as a cinematographer.

According to many who worked with her, Ms Hutchins was a talented artist, and some on Twitter and elsewhere have confirmed this by digging up old still shots of the films she worked on.

Baldwin could be sued for ‘millions and millions’ of dollars over Rust shooting, experts say

Wednesday 27 October 2021 00:11 , Nathan Place

Even if they aren’t held criminally responsible for the death of Halyna Hutchins, experts say, Alec Baldwin and others in charge of the Rust set could face millions of dollars in lawsuits.

“There was clearly negligence on the set,” Adam Winkler, a professor at the UCLA School of Law, told the Associated Press. “The producers had a duty to preserve the safety of the crew. There were obvious hazards on the set.”

Justin Bieber defends wife Hailey from paparazzi’s Rust questions

Tuesday 26 October 2021 23:55 , Nathan Place

As the press hounded Hailey Bieber – the niece of Alec Baldwin – with questions at a recent LA Lakers game, her husband, Justin Bieber, reportedly rushed to her defense.

According to Yahoo News, a photographer repeatedly asked the model how her uncle was doing until Mr Bieber stepped in.

“Yo, have some discretion, my boy,” the pop star sternly told a photographer, according to Yahoo.

Justin Bieber DEFENDS Hailey From Paparazzi Over Alec Baldwin Questions!

Santa Fe sheriff and DA expected to hold press conference tomorrow

Tuesday 26 October 2021 23:42 , Nathan Place

Santa Fe authorities are expected to hold a press conference on Wednesday morning, The New York Times has reported.

According to the Times, the city’s district attorney, Mary Carmack-Altwies, and sheriff, Adan Mendoza, will update the public on the shooting that killed cinematographer Halyna Hutchins.

Ms Carmack-Altwies has also told the paper that criminal charges over the incident have not been “ruled out.”

Film world remembers Halyna Hutchins as ‘incredible artist'

Tuesday 26 October 2021 23:00 , Nathan Place

As the film industry reels from the death of Halyna Hutchins, those who worked with her remember the cinematographer as a rising star in her profession.

“Halyna was an incredible artist who was just starting a career I think people were really starting to notice,” Adam Egypt Mortimer, who directed a film Ms Hutchins worked on, told the BBC. “The fact that she would be killed on a set in an accident like this is unfathomable. It just seems inconceivable.”

Santa Fe district attorney says criminal charges are ‘on the table’

Tuesday 26 October 2021 22:55 , Nathan Place

The Santa Fe County district attorney has said criminal charges are possible in the fatal shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on the set of Rust.

“We haven’t ruled out anything,” the DA, Mary Carmack-Altwies, told The New York Times. “Everything at this point, including criminal charges, is on the table.”

Ms Carmack-Altwies said investigators were focusing on ballistics to determine what kind of round had killed Ms Hutchins and who had placed the ammunition in the gun.

Read more here:

Criminal charges after shooting on set of Alec Baldwin film are ‘on the table’

More reports emerge of ‘corner-cutting’ on Rust set

Tuesday 26 October 2021 22:30 , Nathan Place

As time goes on, more and more reports are emerging on the alleged carelessness on the set of Rust, which some film workers blame on an industry culture that values speed over safety.

“I wrote about Halyna Hutchins and the corner-cutting on the set of Rust,” Jacobin Magazine reporter Alex Press tweeted. “All of the film-industry workers I spoke with emphasize that this is not just about gun safety—it’s about producers’ prioritization of speed and profit over the lives of crew members.”

Read the full statement by Halyna Hutchins’ husband

Tuesday 26 October 2021 22:00 , Nathan Place

Halyna Hutchins’ widower, Matt Hutchins, has released a statement mourning the loss of his wife and asking for privacy as his family grieves.

“Halyna inspired us all with her passion and vision, and her legacy is too meaningful to encapsulate in words,” Mr Hutchins wrote. “Our loss is enormous, and we ask that the media please respect my family’s privacy as we process our grief. We thank everyone for sharing images and stories of her life.”

Rust armorer faces possible eviction, report says

Tuesday 26 October 2021 21:53 , Nathan Place

The armorer on the set of Rust, Hannah Gutierrez Reed, may be evicted from her home, Fox News has reported.

“I want her out,” a woman who said she was Ms Reed’s landlord told the network. “I’ve told her she has to go.”

Final photo from Rust set shows Hutchins hard at work

Tuesday 26 October 2021 21:30 , Nathan Place

A photo of the Rust set taken shortly before Halyna Hutchins was shot shows the cinematographer hard at work with Alec Baldwin and other crew members.

Film workers say shooting points to broader safety issues

Tuesday 26 October 2021 21:00 , Nathan Place

Film workers see Halyna Hutchins’ death as a tragedy, but also as an outrage.

Many in the industry say the fatal Rust shooting was the result of a broader culture of carelessness and inattention to on-set safety, the Los Angeles Times has reported.

“We’re here to mourn,” Michael Miller, vice president of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE), said at a vigil for Ms Hutchins on Sunday. “But I’m afraid we are also gathered with some frustration and a little bit of anger. Anger that too often the rush to complete productions and the cutting of corners puts safety on the back burner and puts crew members at risk.”

Cinematographers union starts GoFundMe for Halyna Hutchins’ family

Tuesday 26 October 2021 20:30 , Nathan Place

The International Cinematographers Guild has started a GoFundMe for the family of Halyna Hutchins, the director of photography who was killed on the set of Rust.

So far, the page has raised over $220,000 – far more than its stated goal of $10,000.

Hours before shooting, crew members used Baldwin’s gun to shoot beer cans, report says

Tuesday 26 October 2021 19:54 , Nathan Place

The gun that fatally shot Halyna Hutchins on Thursday had been used earlier that day to shoot beer cans, an unnamed source told The Wrap.

According to the source, crew members had used the gun that morning for some live-ammunition target practice in the desert, called “plinking.”

Just hours later, an assistant director reportedly handed the gun to Baldwin, shouting “Cold gun!” – meaning it was unloaded.

Alec Baldwin shooting: Everything we know so far

Tuesday 26 October 2021 19:00 , Nathan Place

From the alleged culture of carelessness on the Rust set to the public reaction to the tragedy, here’s everything we know so far about the incident that killed Halyna Hutchins:

Everything we know about the tragic Alec Baldwin shooting on film set

Jake Tapper laments ‘cruel’ right-wing mockery of tragic shooting

Tuesday 26 October 2021 18:30 , Nathan Place

CNN’s Jake Tapper says he’s disturbed that so many conservative figures – including Rep Lauren Boebert, JD Vance, and Donald Trump Jr – have ridiculed the “horrific and tragic incident” that killed Halyna Hutchins.

“Heartbreaking... for normal people,” Tapper said on State of the Union. “But there’s something about our politics right now that is driving people away from our shared humanity.”

Pro-gun congresswoman mocks Alec Baldwin shooting

Tuesday 26 October 2021 18:00 , Nathan Place

Rep Lauren Boebert, whose political brand is centered around her opposition to gun control, has mocked Alec Baldwin after he accidentally shot a cinematographer.

On Twitter, Ms Boebert reposted a years-old tweet from Baldwin, in which he offered to make bright yellow T-shirts reading “My hands are up. Please don’t shoot me.” The tweet appears to be a comment on police shootings.

“@AlecBaldwin are these still available?” the Colorado congresswoman tweeted a day after the Rust shooting. “Asking for a movie producer…”

GOP congressman slams Trump Jr for selling T-shirts mocking Rust shooting

Tuesday 26 October 2021 17:30 , Nathan Place

Rep Adam Kinzinger, an anti-Trump Republican congressman, has condemned an effort by Donald Trump Jr to sell T-shirts mocking the Rust shooting.

The shirts, which read “Guns don’t kill people, Alec Baldwin kills people,” go for $27.99 on shopdonjr.com.

“An innocent person was killed, but anything for a buck,” Mr Kinzinger tweeted.

‘Fanny pack’ of bullets found on Rust set by investigators

Tuesday 26 October 2021 17:01 , Nathan Place

Authorities have said they recovered loose and boxed ammunition while investigating cinematographer Halyna Hutchins’s death on the set of Alec Baldwin’s film Rust.

According to an inventory of seized items that was made public on Monday (25 October), these included “two boxes of ammo”, “loose ammo and boxes”, and a “fanny pack with ammo”. Officers also found three revolvers and loose casings.

In an interview with The New York Times, a Los Angeles-based professional armourer said the fact that loose ammunition and casings were found on set “raises questions” about the organisation of the film’s armoury department. Typically, he explained, ammunition is kept in a clearly labelled box.

Read more here:

‘Fanny pack’ of bullets found on Rust set: ‘Loose ammunition raises questions’

Rust assistant director was fired from previous movie over gun incident, report says

Tuesday 26 October 2021 16:16 , Nathan Place

The assistant director who reportedly handed Alec Baldwin the gun that killed a cinematographer was fired from a previous movie over a similar incident, CNN says.

Dave Halls was working on the 2019 film Freedom’s Path when a prop gun “unexpectedly discharged”, CNN reported, injuring a sound technician.

“Halls was removed from set immediately after the prop gun discharged,” the movie’s production company, Rocket Soul Studios, told CNN. “Production did not resume filming until Dave was off site. An incident report was taken and filed at that time.”

Read more here:

‘Rust’ assistant director was fired from previous movie, report says

Rust actor says scene where he was shot at felt ‘life-threatening’

Tuesday 26 October 2021 15:22 , Ellie Harrison

A principal actor on Rust says a scene where he was shot at in the movie felt “life-threatening”.

Ian A Hudson, who played an outlaw in the film, told TMZ about a “terrifying” experience on set when he was exposed to gunfire while the camera and crew were protected by a shield.

“That made me question me being in front of the camera and being between all of that fire. When the rounds were released I did feel the blanks hitting my face and my body,” he said.

Read the full story here.

Rust actor says scene where he was shot at felt ‘life-threatening’

Ireland Baldwin blasts ‘cancerous’ Candace Owens over comments on shooting

Tuesday 26 October 2021 14:54 , Ellie Harrison

Ireland Baldwin has lashed out at rightwing pundit Candace Owens, after she suggested the shooting on the set of Rust was “poetic justice”.

Taking to Instagram in the wake of Owens’ comments about the incident, Baldwin (daughter of Alec) described Owens as “disgusting”.

“You are the most disgusting, hateful, cancerous human being I’ve ever come across,” Baldwin wrote on her Instagram story.

“Regardless of your foul opinions most of the time, the fact that you would disrespect the life of a woman who was accidentally and tragically killed...Shame on you.”

Read the full story here.

Ireland Baldwin blasts ‘cancerous’ Candace Owens for comment on Alec Baldwin shooting

Trevor Noah condemns the use of real guns on film sets

Tuesday 26 October 2021 14:27 , Ellie Harrison

On Monday night, The Daily Show’s Trevor Noah weighed in on the Rust incident, asking, “Why do they need to use real guns to make a fake thing?”

The US TV host continued: “Because Hollywood movies love using the fake version of real things for everything except guns.

“In Hollywood, they’ve got fake tigers, fake houses, fake diversity and inclusion initiatives, but then when it comes to deadly weapons, suddenly they’re like, ‘Let’s get a real gun and see what happens! You know? Switch things up!’”

A petition calling for the ban of real firearms on film sets has now reached over 40,000 signatures. Read more about it here.

Brandon Lee’s fiancé reflects on actor’s death in the wake of the Rust shooting

Tuesday 26 October 2021 14:06 , Ellie Harrison

Eliza Hutton, the fiancé of Brandon Lee, has reflected on the actor’s death in the wake of the Rust incident.

In an exclusive interview with People, Hutton called Hutchins’s death yet another “avoidable tragedy”.

“Twenty-eight years ago, I was shattered by the shock and grief of losing the love of my life, Brandon Lee, so senselessly,” said Hutton.

Lee died in 1993 aged 28. The actor and son of the late action star Bruce Lee had been killed during the filming of The Crow after an actor fired a prop gun he believed to be loaded with blanks.

It was later discovered that a fragment of a dummy shell had been left in the gun’s barrel. Lee died in hospital following hours of surgery.

Read the full story here.

Eliza Hutton breaks silence on fiancé Brandon Lee’s death after Rust fatal shooting

Baldwin’s daughter in Instagram row with right-wing pundit

Tuesday 26 October 2021 13:55 , Tom Batchelor

Ireland Baldwin, the daughter of Alec, has attacked right-wing pundit Candace Owens on Instagram for her comments in the wake of her father’s shooting.

“You are the most disgusting, hateful, cancerous human being I’ve ever come across,” the 26-year-old model wrote.

“Regardless of your foul opinions most of the time, the fact that you would disrespect the life of a woman who was accidentally and tragically killed...Shame on you.”

Ms Owens was reported to have said in now-deleted tweets that the incident would be an “example of poetic justice” were it not for the fact that a woman had been killed.

Medic asked ‘are we rehearsing’ after hearing shot on set - report

Tuesday 26 October 2021 13:10 , Tom Batchelor

An on-set medic asked “are we rehearsing” after hearing the shot fired by Alec Baldwin which fatally struck Halyna Hutchins, according to a report.

Cherlyn Shaefer instructed members of the film’s crew to put pressure on the victim’s wound and call for emergency help after rushing to the scene. Oxygen was administered while waiting for paramedics, the report said.

The injury report filed by the medic and seen by The Wall Street Journal said Ms Shaefer had claimed “fire in the hole” was not called during the incident.

In photos: candlelit vigil held in California for Halyna Hutchins

Tuesday 26 October 2021 12:39 , Tom Batchelor

Investigators still searching for clues in shooting

Tuesday 26 October 2021 11:50 , Tom Batchelor

One of the central mysteries in the shooting dead of a member of the Rust crew remains what kind of projectile was fired from the gun and how it got there.

Investigators are hoping a forensic analysis of ballistic evidence will shed light on those questions.

“This is a complicated case,” said Juan Rios, spokesman for the Santa Fe Sheriff’s Department, on Monday.

Investigators “are looking at everything that should have been followed ... safety standards on down,” he added, saying it would take time for conclusions to be drawn about what exactly happened.

Pressure mounts for ban on real guns in Hollywood

Tuesday 26 October 2021 11:05 , Tom Batchelor

Booksmart film director Olivia Wilde has called on Hollywood to implement what she called “Halyna’s Law”, and a petition urging Alec Baldwin to take the lead in a campaign to ban the use of real firearms had attracted more than 30,000 votes by Tuesday morning.

“We need to make sure that this avoidable tragedy never happens again,” the petition states.

“There is no excuse for something like this to happen in the 21st century.

“Real guns are no longer needed on film production sets. This isn’t the early 90’s, when Brandon Lee was killed in the same manner. Change needs to happen before additional talented lives are lost.”

Documentary narrated by Baldwin has North American release postponed

Tuesday 26 October 2021 10:19 , Tom Batchelor

A documentary narrated by Alec Baldwin has had its North American release postponed after the actor fatally shot a cinematographer with a prop gun on the set of a separate film.

British production company Montrose Pictures said Flint: Who Can You Trust? will no longer arrive in the US and Canada later this month.

The documentary, exploring a water crisis in Flint, Michigan, and narrated by Baldwin, was broadcast by the BBC and remains available on iPlayer.

It was supposed to arrive in cinemas in cities including Los Angeles, New York and Toronto on 29 October but those plans have been shelved.

‘Very sombre time’: Actors respond to set killing

Tuesday 26 October 2021 09:49 , Tom Batchelor

The Umbrella Academy actor Justin Min, also at the Newport Beach Film Festival, said “it’s been a very sombre time” in recent days on set as he’s been filming the indie thriller Detained.

“After that – I mean we have obviously already been careful, but it’s just another level of precaution,” Min said.

Fellow actor Ray Liotta agreed that the checks on firearms are usually extensive. “They always — that I know of — they check it so you can see,” Liotta said. “They give it to the person you’re pointing the gun at, they do it to the producer, they show whoever is there that it doesn’t work.”

Actor claims Rust may have been ‘mismanaged set'

Tuesday 26 October 2021 09:19 , Tom Batchelor

Jeffrey Wright, an actor who has worked on projects including the James Bond franchise and the upcoming movie The Batman, was acting with a weapon on the set of Westworld when news broke of the shooting last Thursday at a New Mexico ranch.

“We were all pretty shocked. And it informed what we did from that moment on,” he said in an interview on Sunday at the Newport Beach Film Festival. “I don’t recall ever being handed a weapon that was not cleared in front of me – meaning chamber open, barrel shown to me, light flashed inside the barrel to make sure that it’s cleared,” Wright said. “Clearly, that was a mismanaged set.”

Boxes of loose ammunition found on Rust set after shooting

Tuesday 26 October 2021 08:29 , Tom Batchelor

Authorities have said they recovered loose and boxed ammunition while investigating cinematographer Halyna Hutchins’s death on the set of Alec Baldwin’s film Rust.

According to an inventory of seized items that was made public on Monday, these included “two boxes of ammo”, “loose ammo and boxes”, and a “fanny pack [bumbag] with ammo”. Officers also found three revolvers and loose casings.

Investigating officers did not specify what kind of ammunition was recovered from the Bonanza Creek Ranch in Santa Fe, or whether it included live bullets, blank cartridges or dummies.

Read more here:

‘This is a complicated case’: Boxes of loose ammunition found on Rust set

Rust ‘an accident waiting to happen’, says prop master who turned down film

Tuesday 26 October 2021 07:42 , Tom Batchelor

Prop master Neal W Zoromski said he was offered the Alec Baldwin film but turned it down because it was “an accident waiting to happen”.

Mr Zoromski, who has worked in Hollywood for 30 years, told the The Los Angeles Times he was approached by production managers to work as a prop master on Rust.

However, after four days of internal discussions, Mr Zoromski, whose previous film credits included Thank You For Smoking and The Day After Tomorrow, said he got a “bad feeling”.

Here is the story:

Alec Baldwin’s Rust ‘an accident waiting to happen’, says prop master who rejected it

ABC’s The Rookie bans use of ‘live’ guns from set

Tuesday 26 October 2021 06:43 , Peony Hirwani

ABC’s TV series The Rookie has introduced a new policy that will ban the use of “live” guns on set.

This decision comes after the fatal shooting that resulted in the death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on Rust’s set in New Mexico.

The Rookie’s showrunner Alexi Hawley sent a letter to the cast and crew explaining the change.

“It was an easy decision to make given the recent tragedy, and I think every production should consider making it,” Hawley said in a statement, as reported by The Hollywood Reporter.

He added: “It is now policy on The Rookie that all gunfire on set will be Air Soft guns with CG muzzle flashes added in post.”

“The safety our cast and crew is too important. Any risk is too much risk,” the showrunner said.

Prop master says Alec Baldwin’s Rust was ‘an accident waiting to happen’

Tuesday 26 October 2021 06:11 , Peony Hirwani

A Hollywood-based prop master said he was offered to work on Alec Baldwin’s film Rust but turned it down because it was “an accident waiting to happen.”

Neal W Zoromski, who has three decades of experience working in the industry, told the The Los Angeles Times that he was approached by Rust production managers to work as a prop master for the forthcoming Western.

However, after four days of internal discussions, Zoromski said he got a “bad feeling.”

Based on his conversations, Zoromski explained that the team was highly focused on saving money, even at the cost of compromising set safety protocols.

Additionally, he said his questions were dismissed by the film’s managers.

“After I pressed ‘send’ on that last email, I felt, in the pit of my stomach that is an accident waiting to happen,” Zoromski said.

Filmmakers who work with guns share what to consider about the Alec Baldwin shooting

Tuesday 26 October 2021 05:45 , Peony Hirwani

Filmmakers Christopher Gist and Sarah Mayberry share details on what to consider about the Alec Baldwin shooting. You can read the full story here.

We work with guns on film sets. What to consider after the Alec Baldwin shooting

Rust assistant director was fired from a movie set in 2019 following gun incident

Tuesday 26 October 2021 05:21 , Peony Hirwani

Rust assistant director Dave Halls, who handed Alec Baldwin the gun that killed Halyna Hutchins, was fired from a movie in 2019 following an accident involving a gun, according to a producer.

The producer, who asked to remain anonymous, told The Hollywood Reporter that “a crew member incurred a minor and temporary injury when a gun was unexpectedly discharged” on Freedom’s Path film set.

“Our condolences go out to everyone affected by the recent tragic event in New Mexico,” the producer added.

Hailey Bieber is ‘heartbroken’ over tragedy on Rust set

Tuesday 26 October 2021 04:27 , Peony Hirwani

Hailey Bieber has spoken out about the incident that occurred on her uncle Alec Baldwin’s film set on Thursday (21 October).

The 24-year-old model wrote that she was “heartbroken for everyone involved” on one of her Instagram story.

“Sending all my love to the family of Halyna Hutchins. This is a truly unimaginable and devastating tragedy,” she wrote. “My thoughts are also with Joel Souza as he recovers.”

Alec Baldwin shooting: Everything we know so far

Tuesday 26 October 2021 04:00 , Nathan Place

A lot of new information has come out over the past five days about the tragic Rust accident, from how Alec Baldwin reacted to who handed him the gun. Here’s what we know so far:

Everything we know about the tragic Alec Baldwin shooting on film set

‘Rust’ armourer criticised over alleged safety issues on previous film

Tuesday 26 October 2021 03:00 , Nathan Place

The tragic accidental shooting death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on the set of the movie Rust is not the first firearms-related incident for the production’s armourer.

Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, 24, was hired to work as the armourer on the Alec Baldwin Western. The Daily Beast reported on Saturday that Ms Gutierrez-Reed was also the armourer on another film set where a firearms mishap shut down production. During work on the upcoming Nicholas Cage film The Old Way, the woman allegedly gave a gun to an 11-year-old actor without properly inspecting it for safety.

“She was a bit careless with the guns, waving it around every now and again,” an anonymous crew member told the site. “There were a couple times she was loading the blanks and doing it in a fashion that we thought was unsafe.”

Read more here:

‘Careless’ Rust armourer criticised over safety before Alec Baldwin shooting incident

‘Are we rehearsing?’ baffled medic asked after hearing gunshot

Tuesday 26 October 2021 02:00 , Nathan Place

A film set medic told police she was baffled when she heard a loud gunshot on the set of Rust, documents show.

“Are we rehearsing?” Cherlyn Schaefer asked, according to an injury report reviewed by the Wall Street Journal. “Because ‘fire in the hole’ was not called.”

Minutes later, Ms Schaefer was giving medical oxygen to cinematographer Halyna Hutchins, who had just been shot in the abdomen.

Prop Firearms Accidentally Discharged on ‘Rust’ Before Fatal Incident

Cinematographer’s final posts show her excitement on set

Tuesday 26 October 2021 01:07 , Nathan Place

The final Instagram posts of Halyna Hutchins, the film Rust’s director of photography, show how happy she was on the set of the film.

“One of the perks of shooting a western is you get to ride horses on your day off,” Ms Hutchins captioned a video on 19 October, adding a smiley face.

Assistant director was fired from previous movie over gun incident, report says

Monday 25 October 2021 23:46 , Nathan Place

Dave Halls, the assistant director who reportedly handed Alec Baldwin the gun that killed Halyna Hutchins, was fired from a previous movie he worked on over a similar incident, CNN has learned.

Mr Halls was working on the 2019 film “Freedom’s Path” when a prop gun “unexpectedly discharged,” CNN reported, injuring a sound technician.

“Halls was removed from set immediately after the prop gun discharged,” the movie’s production company, Rocket Soul Studios, told CNN. “Production did not resume filming until Dave was off site. An incident report was taken and filed at that time.”

Monday 25 October 2021 23:15 , Clemence Michallon

Here are some of the rules about using guns on film sets:

What happened in Alec Baldwin shooting incident that left film crew member dead?

Monday 25 October 2021 22:32 , Clemence Michallon

Hilaria Baldwin has made her first public comments since the fatal shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins.

On Instagram, she wrote: “My heart is with Halyna. Her husband. Her son. Their family and loved ones. And my Alec.”

Hilaria Baldwin breaks silence after Alec Baldwin shooting: 'My heart is with Halyna'

Monday 25 October 2021 21:37 , Clemence Michallon

Svetlana Androsovyc, Halyna Hutchins’s sister, has spoken out and paid tribute to the cinematographer.

Speaking to the Kyiv Post, Androsovyc said: “I cannot comprehend [her passing]. I loved her very much; I was very proud of her, and she was my role model. We were always close and remained in touch, despite the distance.”

Halyna Hutchins’s sister speaks out after fatal shooting by Alec Baldwin on Rust set

Monday 25 October 2021 21:09 , Clemence Michallon

The production of Rust has been officially halted, but producers of the Western described the move as “a pause rather than an end”, The Associated Press reports.

In an email to crew members, the movie’s production team confirmed that work on the film has been suspended at least until the investigation is complete.

The team said it is working with law enforcement and is conducting its own internal safety review. The production company is also offering grief counseling.

(AP)

Monday 25 October 2021 20:42 , Clemence Michallon

The Santa Fe County Sheriff and the Santa Fe District Attorney have announced they will conduct a joint news conference on Wednesday (27 October) to discuss the ongoing investigation into the shooting incident on the set Rust.

The news conference will begin at 10:00am local time (12:00pm ET/5pm BST) in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

Monday 25 October 2021 19:52 , Clemence Michallon

Alec Baldwin is reportedly cancelling all of his projects following the incident on the set of Rust.

A source told People that the 63-year-old actor is going “to take some time to himself and re-centre himself”.

“This is how he handles difficult times. Whenever something bad happens, in the short term, he removes himself from the public eye,” the source said.

Peony Hirwani has the full story:

Alec Baldwin to cancel all projects following prop gun incident on set of Rust

Monday 25 October 2021 19:08 , Clemence Michallon

The chief electrician on the set of Rust has opened up about the death of Halyna Hutchins in a Facebook post.

“Yes, I knew Halyna, not for a year. I worked with Her on almost all of her films,” Serge Svetnoy wrote.

“Sometimes we’ve shared food and water. We’ve been burning under the sun, freezing in the snow on the shoots. We took care of each other. Yes, I can say with 100% confidence she was my friend.”

Rust film set chief electrician cradled Halyna Hutchins in his arms as she lay dying

Monday 25 October 2021 18:42 , Clemence Michallon

Alec Baldwin’s wife Hilaria Baldwin has shared a message of support for Halyna Hutchins’s family on Instagram.

“My heart is with Halyna,” she wrote. “Her husband. Her son. Their family and loved ones. And my Alec. It’s said, ‘There are no words’ because it’s impossible to express the shock and heartache of such a tragic accident. Heartbreak. Loss. Support.”

She shared the post on Monday morning on her Instagram account:

Monday 25 October 2021 18:32 , Clemence Michallon

A film safety expert joined Morning Joe to provide insight into guns and how they are used on film sets, as well as safety rules in the industry.

He highlighted four main rules: “All guns are always loaded. Never point a gun at anything you don’t want to destroy. Keep your finger off the trigger until your sights are on the target. And always be sure of your target and what’s beyond it.”

The expert also reflected on the usage of the phrase “prop gun”. You can watch the full clip below:

Donald Trump Jr sells T-shirts mocking Alec Baldwin over fatal on-set shooting

Monday 25 October 2021 16:05 , Bevan Hurley

Donald Trump Jr is selling T-shirts on his personal website with the words: “Guns don’t kill people, Alec Baldwin kills people”.

Mr Trump has repeatedly mocked Mr Baldwin in a series of inflammatory Instagram posts about Thursday’s accidental shooting of Halyna Hutchins on the set of Rust in New Mexico.

According to multiple witness accounts, Mr Baldwin was heard being given a “cold gun” shortly before firing the prop gun towards a camera, killing Ms Hutchins and wounding director Joel Souza.

Crew members and Ms Hutchins’ family have blamed the shooting on “negligence” by those responsible for ensuring gun safety on the set, and said Mr Baldwin was not to blame.

The Independent’s Arpan Rai has the full story here.

Father of Halyna Hutchins says Alec Baldwin is not responsible for her death

Monday 25 October 2021 15:44 , Bevan Hurley

Halyna Hutchins’ father Anatoly Androsovych has blamed the death of his daughter on the “people who hold the guns”.

Speaking to The Sun from his home in the Ukraine, Mr Androsovych said the family were still processing the shock of Ms Hutchins’ death.

“I don’t hold Alec Baldwin responsible — it is the responsibility of the props people who handle the guns,” he said.

Mr Baldwin had been practising upholstering a prop gun and firing it at a camera when it went off, killing Ms Hutchins and wounding director Joel Souza.

Authorities are investigating the accidental shooting of Ms Hutchins on the set of Rust in New Mexico on Thursday.

Mr Androsovych said his daughter’s husband Matt, a Los Angeles-based lawyer, would decide whether they would pursue legal action.

Rust’s chief electrician says Halyna Hutchins’ death was due to 'negligence and unprofessionalism’

Monday 25 October 2021 15:22 , Bevan Hurley

The chief electrician on the set of Rust has told how he held Halyna Hutchins in his arms as she bled to death.

Serge Svetnoy said the accidental shooting on the film set in New Mexico on Thursday was the “fault of negligence and unprofessionalism” by those responsible for ensuring gun safety.

In an emotional post on Facebook, Mr Svetnoy said he had worked closely with Ms Hutchins, a 42-year-old cinematographer, on several movies.

“I was standing shoulder-to-shoulder with Halyna during this fatal shot that took her life and injured the director Joel Souza,” he wrote.

“I was holding her in my arms while she was dying. Her blood was on my hands.”

He said the producers of Rust had hired an “inexperienced armourer”.

“To save a dime sometimes, you hire people who are not fully qualified for the complicated and dangerous job, and you risk the lives of the other people who are close and your lives as well,” he wrote.

Mr Svetnoy, who worked on several film productions with Ms Hutchins, said he was devastated for her husband Matt Hutchins and for Mr Baldwin.

“He has to live with the thought that he took the life of the human because of unprofessional people.”

Alec Baldwin was practising ‘cross-draw’ shot at camera when accidental shooting occurred

Monday 25 October 2021 15:12 , Bevan Hurley

Alec Baldwin had been practising pointing his weapon at a camera on the set of Rust when the prop gun accidentally went off, killing Halyna Hutchins, according to new witness statements made public on Sunday night.

A witness account from director Joel Souza released by the Santa Fe Sheriff’s Department on Sunday provided fresh details into the shooting, which occurred in an onset church while Mr Baldwin was practicing a “cross-draw”.

Mr Baldwin was attempting to reach across his body to draw the handgun when he aimed it at the camera, as Ms Hutchins, 42, and Mr Souza stood behind.

Mr Souza told the sheriff’s office in an interview that he heard a loud pop and then noticed that both he and Ms Hutchins were bleeding.

Ms Hutchins fell backward and complained of feeling pain before being helped to the ground, the director said.

Mr Souza, 48, said he recalled hearing the words “cold gun” prior to the accidental shooting, which means the gun had been safety checked.

The camera was not been filming when the accidental shooting occurred, authorities said.

Filmmakers explain what it’s really like to work with guns on set

Monday 25 October 2021 15:04 , Bevan Hurley

Filmmakers Christopher Gist and Sarah Mayberry say the safety procedures involved in using firearms on weapons on set are exacting.

Writing for The Independent, the pair who recently shot psychological crime thriller Darklands said it was important to operate with an “abundance of caution”.

“A gun with no ammunition – that is, a gun with neither a bullet nor blanks – is not dangerous.

“But even so, on set there is always an armorer, a safety officer, and a stunt coordinator: at least three people who always have an eye on the guns on set.”

Read their full piece here.

‘Careful’ Alec Baldwin ordered child away when previously discharging gun on set

Monday 25 October 2021 14:05 , Chiara Giordano

A cameraman working on Rust said Alec Baldwin was careful with prop guns on set, after a shooting accident led to cinematographer Halyna Hutchins’s death.

According to court documents filed by the Santa Fe Sheriff’s Department on Sunday, and seen by The New York Times, camera operator Reid Russell confirmed the actor was “very careful” of his surroundings when rehearsing or shooting with firearms.

Russell also shared an instance when Baldwin ensured no child actors were present when he discharged a gun.

Maanya Sachdeva has more details below:

‘Careful’ Alec Baldwin had ordered child away when previously discharging gun on set

Actors baffled by circumstances surrounding cinematographer’s death

Monday 25 October 2021 13:30 , Chiara Giordano

Hollywood professionals say they are baffled by the circumstances that led to cinematographer Halyna Hutchins’ death on the set of Rust - and that production crews have quickly stepped up safety measures.

Jeffrey Wright, who has worked on projects including the James Bond franchise and the upcoming movie The Batman was acting with a weapon on the set of Westworld when news broke of the fatal shooting on Thursday.

"We were all pretty shocked. And it informed what we did from that moment on," he said in an interview at the Newport Beach Film Festival.

"I don't recall ever being handed a weapon that was not cleared in front of me — meaning chamber open, barrel shown to me, light flashed inside the barrel to make sure that it's cleared," Wright said. "Clearly, that was a mismanaged set."

Actor Ray Liotta agreed with Wright that the checks on firearms are usually extensive.

"They always — that I know of — they check it so you can see," Liotta said. "They give it to the person you're pointing the gun at, they do it to the producer, they show whoever is there that it doesn't work."