Alec Baldwin’s gun fired live lead projectile in Rust shooting, sheriff says
- The Colt pistol and 500 rounds of ammo – some thought to be live bullets – have been recovered from the set, authorities say as they present initial findings
- The lead round was recovered from the shoulder of director Joel Souza, who was standing behind cinematographer Halyna Hutchins when she was fatally shot
A .45-calibre Colt pistol used on the set of the film Rust was not thoroughly checked before being given to actor Alec Baldwin, who fired a live lead bullet in an accidental fatal shooting last week in New Mexico, according to officials and a new court filing.
New details about the incident emerged on Wednesday during a news conference by Santa Fe County Sheriff Adan Mendoza and District Attorney Mary Carmack-Altwies and in an affidavit filed by the sheriff’s department.
Mendoza told reporters there was a complacent attitude toward safety on the set before last Thursday’s shooting that killed cinematographer Halyna Hutchins during a rehearsal.
Hannah Gutierrez, the crew member in charge of weapons on the set, told investigators she had checked guns there but found no “hot rounds” – apparently meaning live ammunition – before the shooting, according to the affidavit.
Dave Halls, – he film’s assistant director, told investigators he “should have checked all” the rounds in the gun before handing it to Baldwin but had not done so, according to the affidavit. Authorities said previously that Baldwin was handed what he thought was a “cold”, or safe, gun by Halls, who took it from a cart used by Gutierrez.