SANTA FE, NM: A .45 caliber Colt pistol used on the set of the movie “Rust” was not thoroughly checked before it was given to actor Alec Baldwin, who died in an accidental fatal shooting in New Mexico last week. A live lead was fired, according to officials and a new court filing.
New details about the incident emerged on Wednesday by Santa Fe County Sheriff Adan Mendoza and District Attorney Mary Carmack-Altweiss during a news conference and in an affidavit filed by the local sheriff’s department. Mendoza also told reporters that there was a complacent attitude toward security on set prior to last Thursday’s shooting, which killed cinematographer Helena Hutchins during a rehearsal.
According to an affidavit filed by the Santa Fe County Sheriff, Hannah Gutierrez, the crew member in charge of the weapons on set, told investigators that she had checked the guns there, but found no “hot rounds” — apparently meant ammunition — during the shooting. before. Department.
According to the affidavit, Dave Halls, the film’s assistant director, told investigators that he should have checked “all rounds” in the gun before handing it to Baldwin, but had not. Officials have previously said that Baldwin was given what they thought was the case. A “cold,” or safe, gun by Hall, who carried it from the carriage used by Gutierrez.
Mendoza and Carmack-Altweiss said that although no charges have been filed, they are not ruling out the possibility.
“All options are on the table. …no one has been dismissed at this point,” Carmack-Altweiss said, referring to potential criminal charges.
The affidavit showed that Gutierrez, whose job is formally known as the film crew’s armour, said that ammunition on the set was not safe during the lunch break before the shooting. It quoted him as saying that the firearms were secured inside a safe during the break and that no live ammunition is ever kept on a film set.
Mendoza said officers in the ongoing investigation have collected 600 evidence, including three firearms, 500 rounds of ammunition – some believed to be live bullets – and several pieces of clothing and luggage. Mendoza said some of the evidence is being sent to the FBI crime lab for analysis.
Officers have the shotgun used in the shooting, Mendoza said, and they recovered the bullet from the shoulder of director Joel Souza, who was injured but was later released from the hospital. Mendoza said it appeared that the same bullets hit Souza and Hutchins.
Mendoza said the gun used by Baldwin was an Italian-made Pieta Long Colt revolver.
“We’ll consider it a live round – one shot, live – because it fired the weapon and apparently killed Ms. Hutchins and injured Mr. Souza,” Mendoza said.
Mendoza said Baldwin, Holles and Gutierrez are all cooperating with the investigation.
When asked about the use of real weapons on a film set, the sheriff said, “I think the industry has a recent record of being safe. I think there was some complacency on this set. And I There seems to be some safety issue that needs to be addressed by the industry and possibly by the state of New Mexico.”
The shooting https://www.reuters.com/lifestyle/alec-baldwin-fires-gun-movie-set-killing-cinematographer-authorities-say-2021-10-22 has stunned Hollywood, prompting security The debate has started about Protocol in film and television – including that certain types of guns should be banned – and working conditions on low-budget productions.
According to the affidavit, the camera operators had left the set to protest the working conditions prior to the incident.
Baldwin, 63, serves as the co-producer of “Rust,” a Western film set in 1880s Kansas. Production has been halted at Bonanza Creek Ranch near Santa Fe.
Baldwin was drawing the revolver https://www.reuters.com/world/us/alec-baldwin-seen-consoling-family-slain-cinematographer-set-problems-mount-2021-10-24 over his body and towards him He was pointing at the camera while rehearsing when the weapon was fired, according to court documents. Mendoza said there was no video footage of the incident.
The makers of the film have hired the law firm https://www.reuters.com/article/us-film-rust-shooting-lawfirm-idUSKBN2HH24S Jenner & Block to investigate the shooting. In a letter sent to the cast and crew Tuesday night, the film’s production team said Jenner would have “absolute discretion about who to interview and draw any conclusions.”
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