According to the latest reports in media about Alec Baldwin prop gun shooting incident which killed a cinematographer and injured the director of the film on sets of upcoming movie Rust revealed the actor was rehearsing a scene citing an affidavit recording his director’s account of the tragedy.
Director Joel Souza, who was standing behind Cinematographer Halyna Hutchins when the gun fired, said he heard what “sounded like a whip and then loud pop,” according to the affidavit released to US media on Sunday.
Director Souza said Alec was “sitting in a pew in a church building setting, and he was practicing a cross draw. Joel said he was looking over the shoulder of Halayna” when he heard the gun fire, Media Reports articles citing the affidavit.
It quotes Souza as saying he remembered Hutchins “complaining about her stomach and grabbing her midsection.”
“Joel also said Halayna began to stumble backwards and she was assisted to the ground,” the affidavit said, according to Media Reports. “Joel explained that he was bleeding from his shoulder and he could see blood on Halyna.”
Hutchins, 42, was struck in the chest when Alec Baldwin fired the prop gun he had been told was safe on the set of low-budget western “Rust” in New Mexico on Thursday. She was declared dead in hospital hours later. The Director who was injured was treated by doctors and sent home.
Police are still investigating the shooting, and have executed a search warrant at the set.
Baldwin has been interviewed by detectives in Santa Fe, and has said he is co-operating fully with the probe.
Dave Halls, Rust Movie assistant director, who handed the weapon to the actor, and on the armorer, 24-year-old Hannah Gutierrez-Reed is now on focus during the investigation. No charges nor arrests have been enforced till date.
The shooting incident occurred after a lunch break, Souza reportedly said in the affidavit, adding that he wasn’t sure if the gun had been checked again for safety after the break.
Hutchins’ friends are shocked with the new revelations as they and colleagues gathered to pay tribute to her Sunday at a vigil where their anguish and anger were on display.
US witnessed a growing call for a ban on live firearms on movie sets, with a petition gathering more than 20,000 signatures and a California lawmaker announcing he would push a bill banning live ammunition on sets in the state.
