Alec Baldwin Rust movie crew colleague David Halls‘ is in the limelight now, after he is the one who handed over the fire arm to Alec before the fatal incident which killed the cinematographer and injured the director.
David’s role in the accident on the RUST set of a 19th-century Western last month has been under scrutiny after he told police he had failed to fully check the firearm before the fatal incident.
In a statement on Monday, Halls said he is “shocked and saddened” by the death of Halyna Hutchins, but did not directly address the shooting or his role.
“Halyna Hutchins was not just one of the most talented people I’ve worked with, but also a friend,” wrote David Halls.
“It’s my hope that this tragedy prompts the industry to re-evaluate its values and practices to ensure no one is harmed through the creative process again,” he added.
A live round fired by Alec Baldwin during a rehearsal killed cinematographer Halyna Hutchins. (File)
Shocked and Sad says David Halls about the fatal Alec Baldwin fatal Shoot out
The crew member who handed Alec Baldwin the loaded gun that killed a cinematographer on the set of “Rust” expressed his shock and sadness Monday, in his first public comments since the tragedy.
Along with armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, first assistant director Halls was responsible for handling and checking weapons on set, and announcing “cold gun” — industry lingo for an inert firearm.
According to a search warrant, he told detectives he “should have checked” that all the rounds in the Colt .45 gun were dummy, or inert, rounds, “but didn’t.”
Alec Baldwin fatal shooting incident, David Halls reveals shocking views
A live round fired by Baldwin during rehearsal passed through Halyna Hutchins’ body and struck director Joel Souza in the shoulder. Hutchins later died of her injury.
Nearly 100,000 people have since signed a petition to permanently remove firearms from sets, noting that effects such as the loud bang and muzzle flash can easily be added to fake rubber guns in post-production.
In his statement, Halls also said he had been “overwhelmed by the love and support,” and wrote, “My thoughts are with all who knew and loved Halyna.”
His statement came two days after Baldwin’s own first public comments on the incident, in which he told reporters that the tragedy was a “one in a trillion episode.”
The US actor said he had been advised not to speak directly about the shooting due to the ongoing police investigation.
Prosecutors have refused to rule out criminal charges over the deadly shooting.
Santa Fe County Sheriff Adan Mendoza said live rounds “shouldn’t have been” present, and said it appeared “there was some complacency on this set.”
“I check the barrel for obstructions, most of the time there’s no live fire, [Hannah] opens the hatch and spins the drum, and I say cold gun on set,” Halls said, according to the document.
Halls said that he only recalled seeing three rounds in the chamber ahead of passing the gun over to Baldwin.
