SANTA FE, N.M. (KRQE) – The Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office has released videos showing what deputies arrived to in October of 2021 when Alec Baldwin accidentally shot and killed cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on the set of Rust.
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As deputies arrived at the set of Rust to investigate the shooting, they interviewed everyone on location. One of the first was Alec Baldwin who fired the deadly shot from a prop gun. The shot when through Hutchins and into Director Joel Souza.
“We’re rehearsing in the church set. Sorry, I’m trying. I heard a very loud bang and it felt like someone kicked me in the shoulder and then I was down on my a**. I look over and I see the cinematographer Haylna Hutchins with blood coming out of her back,” said Souza.
Souza’s focus quickly shifted to his coworker Hutchins. “Do you know anything about what is going on with her? Is she okay?” said Souza.
The deputy asked who handed Alec Baldwin the gun and if there was any indication that it was loaded with a live round. “I remember the armorer handed the actor a gun. I don’t know if she said it was cold or clean… but she handed him the gun and then there was a bang, a louder bang,” said Souza.
The Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office also released a clip from the very scene they were recording at the time. It doesn’t show the fatal shot, but Souza described it. “I think it went through her and into me.”
Souza continued to explain to the officer how firearm safety was supposed to work on set. “I believe the armor will keep the gun what they call clean or cold. When they hand it over for rehearsal they show it to the actor, they show it to the first ad, and they all agree there are no rounds in it,” said Souza.
Shortly before rehearsing the scene a camera crew for the movie walked off the job to protest conditions and production issues.including safety concerns.
“I feel really bad you know I mean everything was going great. The only problem we had is when these six guys wanted to quit,” Baldwin said.
Last week, New Mexico Environment Department’s Occupational Health and Safety Bureau released the results of its investigation. The report found that the Rust Movie Productions, LLC management knew that firearm safety procedures were not followed on set and showed indifference to employee safety. The production company was issued a Willful-Serious citation that includes a $136,793 penalty. This is the maximum fine and highest level of citation allowed by state law in New Mexico.
WARNING: The clip below contains some profanity.
