Exclusive Eyewitness Recounts Shooting on Alec Baldwin Movie Set: One bullet ripped through both victims

Showbz 411 ^ | 10/22/2021 | Roger Friedman

[marcusmaximus]

It was one bullet that discharged from the prop gun on the Santa Fe movie “Rust” and killed the director of photography and wounded the movie’s director.

An eyewitness on set tells this column that the bullet went straight through the body of DP Halyna Hutchins and into the clavicle of the film’s director Joel Souza.

Very quickly the set was locked down. Ambulance and helicopters arrived. Hutchins and Souza were sent straight to the hospital. Hutchins died en route in a helicopter.

On the ground, Baldwin was in shock but composed. He kept asking why he was handed a “hot gun.” Our eyewitness said Baldwin kept saying “In all my years, I’ve never been handed a hot gun.”

“A hot gun” means a gun with real ammunition.

Baldwin, not knowing the fate of the victims, was taken immediately to the hospital. “He had no idea how badly they were hurt or Halyna was dead.”

[Vermont Lt]

As an aside, this is an image of what the actor sees as they look towards the camera. There are tons of people on any set.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cinematography#/media/File:FMPU_camera_crew_1944.jpg

[proud American in Canada]

I don’t like his politics but he is a human being and must be in Hell right now.

I think we should act like the FReepers that we are and pray for him. Normally we do.

I think he did what the script told him to do. He probably knows nothing about guns.

[proud American in Canada]

I agree with you. This will be on his conscience for the rest of his life.

I feel very bad for him.

[Mathews]

I’ve seen many scenes like that. That’s why I included the scenario in my reply.

[proud American in Canada]

I don’t think that Baldwin will ever have a good night’s sleep for the rest of his life.

[proud American in Canada]

If he intended to do it, why was he in shock and crying right after?

[GingisK]

Well, that changes the view somewhat.

[GingisK]

He’s an actor. He gets paid for doing things he didn’t.

[mmichaels1970]

I think a lot of people have the wrong idea of what “prop gun” means. In this context it simply means that it was a gun used in a make believe scenario. It doesn’t mean it was a non functional firearm.

I agree. Just like explosives on movie sets are REAL explosives. Car chases involve actual fast-moving cars. And all of these dangerous things are managed by a team of supposedly-qualified people. The person LEAST qualified to manage any of it is, in my opinion, the actor.

The actor is "directed" by the director, who in my opinion is the most responsible for whatever goes on on the set.

The facts are still pretty sketchy right now. And I don't know if there's some Hollywood policy towards gun and other prop safety. Maybe there's some law requiring the actor to inspect the weapon or something. I doubt it. Maybe he was joking around a fired the weapon without being instructed to....that would change things in my mind for sure.

Without the facts, my opinion isn't good for much. But "if you held a gun to my head" and asked who I thought should be held responsible (see what I did there?), I'd put my blame on the director.

[mmichaels1970]

An actor doing a close up of the gun fight will stand in front of the camera and act directly towards the lens. If the actor is shooting directly into the camera a real bullet could easily go through the cinematographer (probably less than 10 feet away. And lodge into the directors chest.

Excellent synopsis.

[Joe Boucher]

Your about story shows you like I were in the military and were taught NEVER point a weapon at anyone unless you expect to do them serious damage.
I was taught that by my papa when we were in the woods hunting squirrels in Michigan.
Guess Alex was not taught proper gun etiquette.
Because of his ineptness this lady is dead and this guy injured.
Gonna cost him as it’s his production.

[mmichaels1970]

I don’t like his politics but he is a human being and must be in Hell right now.

Compassion, even for those we dislike, is harder and harder to come by. Thank you for showing yours.

[Lurker]

“ This will be on his conscience for the rest of his life.”

I doubt he has one.

L

[kara37]

Baldwin is undoubtedly a POS, but this isn’t his fault.

**********************************

I disagree. If the POS had taken a gun safety class, he would know to treat every gun likes it’s loaded, even if you know it’s not.
I guess he was too busy trying to ban guns, instead of learning to safely handle them.

[PGR88]

I think he did what the script told him to do. He probably knows nothing about guns.

I agree. Its a sad situation. Even though I don't like the guy, I am certain he had no desire to harm anyone.

I'm just pointing out what will certainly be more liberal hypocrisy. But if you or I were out hunting with friends, or giving a firearms class, and a similar thing happened, I guarantee you - statist/leftist DAs would make sure we were in jail.

[Reno89519]

Because he got caught?

Maybe it is part of an act. He is an actor with lots of history having emotional and violent outbursts. I'm suspicious as should everyone. Definitely not giving, suggesting, or waiting for people to give him a pass on committing murder. You cannot undo what he has done, don't excuse it, lets see a robust investigation, bring it into the court, and let justice prevail.

Yes, I am saying that charges need to be made, get this into a public courtroom and not left to sheriff and prosecutors in a back room.

[The Pack Knight]

My guess on why he was pointing it at them was that he was shooting a scene where he was shooting toward the camera, and the cinematographer and director were watching from behind the camera for perspective.

Or he was just horsing around, which would be bad news for him.

[Brookhaven]

The movie was set in the 1800s.

Odds are it was a revolver.

[William Tell]

“In all my years, I’ve never been handed a hot gun.”

I think Baldwin meant to say, “In all my years, i’ve only been handed a hot gun one time.” Unfortunately Baldwin’s admitted lack of experience has resulted in a death. Baldwin’s lawyer needs to tell him to shut up.

[Yo-Yo]

Ok. So, in a movie shot the cinematographer sits behind the camera, checking for things like focus, zoom, panning and what not. The director is usually directly behind them, watching on a live screen. This way they can make sure the shot is going the way they want.

Is that not EXACTLY what I described when I said:

Filming a closeup could explain why both the DP and the Director were hit by the same one shot. They could have been filming a closeup of Baldwin shooting someone, and pointed his gun at the off-set camera with the director and DP standing next to it.