Hollywood star Alec Baldwin accidentally shot camerawoman Halyna Hutchins on the set of the western “Rust”.
Now, for the first time, the weapon master in charge expresses herself - and rejects any responsibility.
Hollywood star Alec Baldwin shot and killed camerawoman Halyna Hutchins while filming the western “Rust”.
How the accident came about is still unclear.
On Friday, the weapon master in charge, Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, spoke for the first time.
This news ticker is updated regularly.
Santa Fe / USA - The actor Alec Baldwin shot dead the camerawoman Halyna Hutchins while filming on the set of the film "Rust" in Santa Fe.
How exactly the accident came about is currently unclear.
According to the German press agency, the responsible gun master Hannah Gutierrez-Reed commented on the accident for the first time on Friday.
She sees production as being responsible.
Baldwin's armorer: "I have no idea where the live ammunition came from"
From the point of view of Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, "the tragic accident would never have occurred had the live ammunition not been introduced on the set," said the 24-year-old's lawyers on Friday.
Gutierrez-Reed himself had "no idea where the live ammunition came from."
It is undisputed that there was live ammunition in the weapon.
Assistant director Dave Halls had reportedly handed actor Alec Baldwin the said gun with the words "cold gun" on it.
In film jargon, this is an indication that the weapon is safe.
Halls now admitted that he had not checked all the bullets in the revolver's drum, as reported by the German press agency.
Gunsmith on shooting: "Entire set no longer safe"
According to their own statements, the Santa Fe police secured 500 bullets on the set, including blank cartridges, dummy cartridges and - so the assumption - real bullets. "I think there was a certain carelessness on this set," said the sheriff in charge, Adan Mendoza, at a press conference. There are two other known incidents in which weapons were accidentally fired. The media had reported that just a few hours before the accident, the film crew shot cans with live ammunition for practice purposes. According to weapons master Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, this can be completely ruled out, as her lawyers announced. They kept the guns under lock and key every evening and during the lunch break.
The weapons master sees the responsibility for the accident in the production.
This put budget questions before security rules.
For Gutierrez-Reed it was "extremely difficult" to concentrate on her work because of the production constraints.
According to her lawyers, Gutierrez-Reed fought for training, days for gun maintenance and adequate time to prepare for target practice, but was repeatedly rejected.
In the end, the entire set was no longer safe, among other things because there were no safety briefings.
It was not Hannah's fault, the statement continued.
The investigation into the incident continues.
