The police investigation into a tragic incident on the set of the western "Rust" is still ongoing. However, documents that the agency sent to the court and which are available to the US magazine “People”, among others, give a picture of what could have happened. The tragedy appears to have happened while actor Alec Baldwin was practicing drawing a prop gun. A shot went off and 42-year-old camerawoman Halyna Hutchins was fatally injured.
Both director Joel Souza, who was also injured in the incident, and another cameraman said that the original camera crew had resigned, which led to shifts in the production process because new employees had to be found.
After a lunch break, everyone returned to the set. Souza told the police that he was not sure if the weapon had been checked again. As far as he knew, all weapons on set should have been inspected by the armorer in charge and then by an assistant director, who then passed it on to Baldwin. The assistant director explained that it was a "cold weapon" to make it clear that there was no live ammunition inside.
Like a whip
Baldwin was sitting on a bench in a church on set practicing drawing his gun when the incident allegedly happened. Souza says he was standing with Hutchins when he suddenly heard what "sounded like a whip and then a loud crack". Hutchins complained of abdominal pain and stumbled backwards. Souza noticed that he was bleeding from his shoulder. The incident was therefore not filmed because the camera had just been aligned for the scene.
The cinematographer also explained that Baldwin was said to have been "very careful" with prop weapons on the set beforehand. Before filming another scene, the actor is said to have made sure, among other things, that there were no children around. The police want to comment on the investigation in a press conference on Wednesday.
Baldwin recently commented on the tragedy, tweeting among other things: "There are no words to express my shock and sadness at the tragic accident in which Halyna Hutchins, a wife, mother and one of us dear colleague, died."He is cooperating with the police to further the investigation. He is also in contact with the husband of the deceased and is offering his support.
