Warning: the video footage in this article contains graphic imagery and descriptions.
Body camera footage of the aftermath of the fatal shooting on the Alec Baldwin western film Rust has finally been released. On October 21, 2021, 42-year-old cinematographer Halyna Hutchins was shot and killed by a prop gun fired by Baldwin during the rehearsal of a scene. Director Joel Souza was also injured by the same round after it passed through Hutchins. The firearm was reportedly loaded with live ammunition prior to the shooting.
As the investigation into Hutchins' death continues, it has seemingly devolved into a series of finger-pointing in the inevitable blame game. The incident has raised many questions surrounding previously reported issues regarding a lack of firearm safety on the set. Many have looked to Baldwin, who has admitted to pointing the gun at Hutchins per her request during rehearsal, although he claims that he never pulled the trigger. On-set armorer Hannah Gutierrez Reed has also faced scrutiny for her actions. She has previously stated that she has no idea how the live rounds were brought on set. But the armorer was also criticized for two previous on-set misfires that occurred before the one that took Hutchins' life, even though Gutierrez Reed said she was not responsible for those misfires.
Now, the Santa Fe County Sheriff's office (via The Guardian) has released body camera footage of the immediate aftermath of the fatal shooting on the set of Rust. The footage consists of officer-captured video following their arrival on the scene to find Hutchins on the floor of the church at the Bonanza Creek Ranch surrounded by paramedics. Baldwin can also be seen immediately following the incident, waiting outside of the church as the police officer discusses the situation with him. Also included were later interviews with Baldwin and Souza giving their accounts of what happened during the incident. Watch the footage below.
Click here to view the video on YouTube.
The footage provides a clearer picture of the immediate chaos following the shooting. The officer operating the body camera arrives on the scene to find paramedics hard at work trying to save Hutchins' life and attempts to control the area by dictating what needs to be done. Baldwin later recounts the shooting during an interview, seemingly pleading his ignorance as he explains that he believed there were no live rounds in the firearm at the time, stating, "In the rehearsal, there should have been nothing. There should have been a cold gun with no rounds inside or with dummy rounds, cosmetic rounds." The actor continues to describe the fatal shooting as it happened, adding, "I take the gun out slowly, I turn, I cock the pistol — bang! She hits the ground. She goes down. [Souza] goes down. Screaming." While lying in a hospital bed, Souza gave his terrifying account, describing the loud bang from the gun and feeling like he got kicked in the shoulder from the impact of the round. He was initially unsure what happened until he saw blood coming out of Hutchins' back.
The shocking events that occurred on the set of Rust last October have put a spotlight on weapon safety in Hollywood. Following the incident, some actors and filmmakers have reconsidered the use of real firearms on future movie sets, such as Dwayne Johnson, who has vowed to never use them again. While it is promising that there seems to be real change in Hollywood after this tragedy, the fact remains that those changes should have been implemented long before Halyna Hutchins lost her life.
Source: The Guardian
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