Actor Alec Baldwin was rehearsing a scene in which he pointed a prop pistol at the camera lens when he fatally shot director of photography Halyna Hutchins, according to US media, citing an affidavit from the film’s director about the tragedy.
The film’s director, Joel Souza, who was standing behind Hutchins when the gun was fired, said he heard what "sounded like a whip and then a loud bang", according to his statement, released Sunday night by the US media.
Baldwin was "sitting on a pew on the set, practicing a cross draw. Joel said he was looking over Halayna’s shoulder" when he heard the shot, NBC News reported.
According to Souza’s affidavit, Hutchins "he complained" of a pain in the stomach at that time.
"Joel also said that Halayna started stumbling backwards and was assisted into setting her up on the ground.", according to NBC. "Joel explained that he was bleeding from his shoulder and that he could see blood on Halayna".
Hutchins, 42, was hit in the chest Thursday when Baldwin fired the prop pistol – which they had told him that it was safe– while filming the low-budget western "Rust", in New Mexico. She was pronounced dead in the hospital hours later.
Souza, 48, was treated by doctors and released.
Police are still investigating the shooting and executed a search warrant on set.
Baldwin has been interviewed by detectives in Santa Fe and has said he is fully cooperating with the investigation.
Attention has also focused on the film’s assistant director, Dave Halls, who handed the gun to the actor, and in the armory, Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, 24 years old.
However, no charges have been filed and no arrests have been made.
The incident occurred after a lunch break, Souza said in the affidavit, adding that he was not sure whether the safety of the weapon had been rechecked after the break.
A camera operator claimed that the incident was not recorded because the cast and crew were still preparing for the scene.
The new details emerged as Hutchins’ shocked friends and colleagues gathered to pay tribute Sunday at a vigil displaying their anguish and anger.
Calls for the banning of live firearms on movie sets have been growing: a petition gathered more than 20,000 signatures and a Californian legislator announced that he would push for a bill to ban live ammunition on movie sets. state.
.
