Tragedy on the film set
Baldwin on killing shot: “If I felt responsible, I might have killed myself”
Totally devastated: Alec Baldwin during the ABC News interview with George Stephanopoulos
© Jeffrey Neira / ABC News / AP / DPA
Afterwards, the presenter spoke of the “most intense” interview in his 20 years with the ABC broadcaster: For the first time after the tragedy, actor Alec Baldwin spoke in detail about the killing shot on the film set in October.
Film star Alec Baldwin has denied any responsibility for the fatal shot at camerawoman Halyna Hutchins on a US film set. Someone was responsible for the accident, “but I know that it is not me,” said Baldwin in an interview broadcast on Thursday with ABC News. The actor added, “If I felt responsible, I might have killed myself”.
Alec Baldwin has “nothing to hide”
Baldwin apparently accidentally shot 42-year-old camerawoman Hutchins with a prop gun during a rehearsal on October 21 while filming the western “Rust” in New Mexico. Director Joel Souza was hit in the shoulder and injured. The revolver had apparently been loaded with at least one real bullet. The Hollywood star was sued several times after the incident.
Baldwin said in the first major interview since the October tragedy that “the criminal investigation should focus on finding who brought live ammunition to the set of ‘Rust'”. He has “nothing to hide”.
The 63-year-old described the incident in detail and said he was told the gun was “cold” – technical jargon for a firearm that does not contain live ammunition. He was told by Hutchins to point the gun in her direction while she prepared to shoot the scene. “I let go of the hammer. Bang. The gun goes off,” he said. “Everyone is horrified. They are shocked. It’s loud,” he said, describing the reactions of the bystanders.
Baldwin said he initially believed Hutchins passed out or had a heart attack. Only hours later, after a long police interrogation, did he find out that she had been killed with a sharp bullet. He denied the suspicion that it could have been an act of sabotage and said it was “very likely that it was an accident”.
Baldwin cries several times in an interview
Since the incident, he has been called a “murderer”, said Baldwin. He also rejected the testimony of some critics that it was an actor’s job to check weapons. But the tragedy changed things for him, he said. “I can’t imagine making a movie again that includes a gun”.
ABC presenter Stephanopoulos (60) had already said on Wednesday before the broadcast of the entire one-hour conversation that this was the “most intense” interview in his 20 years with the ABC broadcaster. Baldwin was completely devastated, but he answered all questions very openly. They talked extensively about the day of shooting and many things surprised him.
In excerpts from the interview published in advance on Wednesday, Baldwin had denied firing the weapon. “I didn’t pull the trigger,” he said. “I would never point a gun at anyone and pull the trigger.” Baldwin was very emotional during the interview and cried several times.
Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, the gunsmith who was responsible for the firearms on the set of “Rust”, had admitted in a testimony to the investigators that she was negligent in checking the revolver shortly before the crime. The police investigation continues. However, Baldwin believes it is “highly unlikely” that he will be “prosecuted”.