Death on the Baldwin set
The weapon was not checked correctly
The police continue to investigate the death on the set of the film “Rust”.
© imago / ZUMA Wire
After the fatal accident on the “Rust” set, the assistant director comes into focus. He shouldn’t have checked the gun thoroughly.
After the fatal accident on the set of the film “Rust”, the assistant director has apparently admitted mistakes. According to the New York Times, he told an investigatorthat he didn’t check all the bullets in the gun closely enough. This is reported by the newspaper, citing an affidavit. The assistant director had given the revolver to lead actor Alec Baldwin (63).
The assistant director also said that the gunsmith of the film had opened the gun so that he could inspect it. He should have checked all the bullets, but evidently didn’t. According to the “New York Times” in its statement, he could not remember whether she turned the drum of the revolver. The assistant director only remembers seeing three bullets.
Live ammunition on the set
While filming in the US state of New Mexico, a shot had apparently been accidentally fired a week ago when Alec Baldwin was rehearsing with the weapon he was handed. Halyna Hutchins, 42, was fatally injured. The police were able to secure a lead projectile that was taken from the shoulder of the director Joel Souza (48), who was also hit, as evidence. It is said to be the bullet that was fired from Baldwin’s gun. In addition, more bullets were secured on the set, which are also said to be live ammunition, according to the police.
The assistant director had given the gun to Baldwin – allegedly with the reference “cold gun”, which means a gun that does not contain live ammunition. The man was apparently previously involved in a gun accident. The assistant director was fired from the set of the film “Freedom’s Path” in 2019. The reason: A weapon is said to have “fired unexpectedly”. According to several US media, the then production company announced this in a statement.
No charges in the “Rust” case
It is still unclear what consequences the death on the “Rust” set will have. District Attorney Carmack-Altwies pointed out at a press conference that it was too early to bring charges. At this point in time, however, it will not be ruled out for anyone – “all options are now still on the table”. When there will be new results or possible charges and arrests cannot be said at the time.