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Cinematographer Halyna Hutchins in a 2019 shot
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Mat Hayward / Getty Images for AMC Networks
After actor Alec Baldwin's prop weapon was fatally shot at a camerawoman on a film set in New Mexico, details of the accident became known.
A report from the Santa Fe Police Department shows that an assistant director handed the gun to Baldwin with the words "Cold Gun" - an indication that the gun was not loaded, as reported by the New York Times and CNN.
Accordingly, the assistant director did not know that there was live ammunition in the gun.
But when the actor fired the gun on Thursday, tragedy broke out: Baldwin hit 42-year-old cinematographer Halyna Hutchins in the chest and director Joel Souza, 48, in the shoulder.
Souza was therefore behind the camerawoman.
Hutchins was flown by helicopter to New Mexico University Hospital in Albuquerque, where she succumbed to her injuries.
She leaves behind her husband and a son.
Director Souza was also taken to hospital but was later released.
Tragically, the Western "Rust" is about a 13 year old boy who accidentally kills someone.
Filming began on October 6th at Bonanza Creek Ranch.
Numerous films have already been produced on the site near a former gold rush town in the New Mexico desert.
After the accident, filming was suspended until further notice.
According to the Los Angeles Times, the shooting occurred when Baldwin pulled the gun from its holster.
On Friday, police searched the location and also confiscated prop guns - prop guns, ammunition and clothing, computer equipment and footage.
According to the police report, from which the AP news agency quoted, the 24-year-old gunsmith Hannah Gutierrez Reed is said to have placed three guns on a car on the set.
The assistant director David Halls is said to have given Baldwin one of the weapons.
It is still unclear how often Baldwin shot the gun and what ammunition the gun was loaded with.
Gutierrez removed a cartridge case from the gun and handed it over to the police, according to the AP.
Employees complained about a lack of security
According to a report in the Los Angeles Times, employees on the set complained about a lack of safety precautions and poor conditions such as long working hours. Accordingly, Baldwin's stunt double had accidentally shot twice with the gun on Saturday. The newspaper reported, citing unnamed sources, that several employees of the camera crew had left the location a few hours before the fatal incident in protest of the working conditions. Hollywood security protocols were not strictly followed, it said.
In addition, the members of the film team had been promised to be able to stay in a hotel in Santa Fe.
But after filming began, they were told that they would have to travel the 90-plus miles from Albuquerque every day instead.
The employees were apparently afraid that an accident could occur after 12 to 13 hours on the set.
Cinematographer Hutchins had also spoken out in favor of better working conditions, according to the Los Angeles Times.
Some cameramen left the set in protest on the day of the accident.
The accident occurred six hours after these employees left the set.
"There are no words to express the shock and sadness at the tragic accident that ended Halyna Hutchins' life," wrote Baldwin on Twitter on Friday. She was "wife, mother and deeply admired colleague of ours." “I am fully cooperating with the police investigation to find out how this tragedy came about. And I'm in contact with her husband to offer my support to him and his family. ”The thought of“ her husband, her son, and all those who knew and loved Halyna ”breaks his heart.
The police are feverishly investigating.
Juan Rios, a police spokesman, said more witnesses would now be questioned.
Above all, it must be clarified what type of weapon it was and how the weapon came to the set.
According to the police, no criminal charges have yet been made, and no one has been arrested.
kha / dpa