The assistant director on “Rust” who handed Alec Baldwin the gun that fired the deadly shot acknowledged to investigators that he didn’t examine all of the rounds loaded within the weapon previous to the deadly taking pictures of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins, a detective wrote in a search warrant affidavit made public Wednesday.
Detective Alexandria Hancock described her interviews with first assistant director David Halls and armorer Hannah Reed-Gutierrez.
“David suggested when Hannah confirmed him the firearm earlier than persevering with rehearsal, he may solely bear in mind seeing three rounds. He suggested he ought to have checked all of them however didn’t, and couldn’t recall if she spun the drum,” the affidavit stated.
An earlier affidavit acknowledged Halls shouted “chilly gun” (which means the gun didn’t have a clean or a dwell spherical that contained gunpowder that would explode), earlier than handing it to Baldwin.
Investigators added the request to go looking the van after interviewing a number of members of the film crew, together with Reed-Gutierrez, who informed investigators the weapons utilized in filming have been saved in a protected contained in the van or “prop truck” to which just a few individuals had entry and the mix.
Santa Fe Sheriff Adan Mendoza stated Wednesday a suspected dwell spherical killed Hutchins and wounded director Joel Souza. But within the warrant, Hancock says Reed-Gutierrez informed investigators, “No dwell ammo is ever saved on set.”
“David suggested the incident was not a deliberate act,” the detective wrote of the interview with Halls.
Extra context: In response to the affidavit, a van used to retailer weapons and props on the Santa Fe set of “Rust” was looked for proof prompted by interviews from the movie crew. The van was looked for firearms, ammunition, a gun protected, fingerprints, bodily fluids, and residue, the detective stated.
“Hannah suggested on the day of the incident, she checked the ‘dummies’ and ensured they have been no ‘scorching’ rounds,” the warrant states concerning the ammo used on set. Whereas the firearms have been secured contained in the van, “ammo was left on a cart on the set, not secured,” Reed-Gutierrez informed investigators.
The gray, two-tier cart additionally contained a western-style belt and different prop-ammunition.
Reed-Gutierrez informed investigators she handed the gun to Baldwin a few occasions in the course of the day’s filming, and likewise handed it to Halls.
Reid Russell, a cameraman standing subsequent to Hutchins and Souza, additionally informed deputies everybody gave the impression to be getting alongside, regardless of an earlier walkout of some crew members the day before today. He informed deputies he had stepped out of the quick space for about 5 minutes and was unsure whether or not the weapon was checked throughout his absence.
Souza, who sustained a gunshot wound to his shoulder within the incident, informed legislation enforcement, “so far as he is aware of, nobody will get checked for dwell ammunition on their particular person prior and after the scenes are being filmed.”
Halls and Reed-Gutierrez haven’t responded to CNN’s requests for remark.
