This archive report was first published on 24 October 2021.
On October 24, 2021, a fatal shooting occurred on the set of the film 'Rust,' where Alec Baldwin was a producer and actor. The incident raised questions about the safety protocols in place on the set.
According to an affidavit filed by Detective Cano, the assistant director, Dave Halls, handed Alec Baldwin a gun that contained live rounds, which resulted in the fatal shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins and the wounding of director Joel Souza.
Experts in the use of firearms on film sets have spoken out about the unusual protocol of an assistant director handing a gun to an actor. Mike Tristano, a veteran professional armorer, described the chain of events as a 'red flag.'
Additionally, the film's armorer, Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, had recently completed her first movie as head armorer in a western called 'The Old Way,' which is set for release next year. In a podcast interview, she expressed her nervousness about taking on the role but stated that it went 'really smoothly.'
However, the crew members who quit the film cited not only safety concerns but also other grievances, including delayed paychecks and the refusal to book hotel rooms in Santa Fe. This led to some crew members having to drive long distances to their homes after a long day on set.
