What happened on the set of Alec Baldwin’s movie Rust?
TRAGEDY struck the set of Alec Baldwin's Western film, Rust, after one of the crew members was shot and killed.
Now, fans are eager to understand what happened on the New Mexico set on October 21, 2021.
What happened on the set of Alec Baldwin's movie, Rust?
In 2021, Alec Baldwin was working on the set of the upcoming Western film, Rust.
While filming one of the scenes, Baldwin accidentally shot director of photography Halyna Hutchins and director-writer Joel Souza with a prop gun.
In a statement first given to The U.S. Sun, Santa Fe County Sheriff Juan Rios revealed: “The sheriff’s office confirms that two individuals were shot on the set of Rust."
He confirmed that Hutchins and Souza were shot after a prop firearm was discharged by Baldwin.
Souza was wounded but survived. Hutchins tragically died at the University of New Mexico Hospital due to the shooting.
When was Alec Baldwin charged?
On January 19, 2023, it was announced that Baldwin would be charged with involuntary manslaughter, alongside Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, the armorer tasked with handling weapons on the set, related to the incident.
However, Baldwin's charges were dropped before court proceedings were slated to begin.
At the time, Baldwin's attorneys had told : "We are pleased with the decision to dismiss the case against Alec Baldwin and we encourage a proper investigation into the facts and circumstances of this tragic accident."
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Baldwin was then charged a second time, and hit with a maximum prison sentence of 18 months.
Baldwin has cooperated with investigators since the shooting but previously said in a phone call that he is "not responsible for what happened to [Halyna]."
Dave Halls, the film’s first assistant director, was the one who gave Baldwin the gun. He also faced charges but agreed to a plea deal in exchange for a suspended sentence.
On January 31, 2024, it was revealed that Baldwin pleaded not guilty to involuntary manslaughter in connection to the shooting. He also waived his right to appear in court.
Who was Halyna Hutchins?
Halyna Hutchins was a Ukrainian cinematographer who worked on over 30 films in the entertainment industry.
"I like stories that [are] rooted in reality or real characters, but my favorite part is actually creating the world where the story will exist," she said of her work in April 2021, via .
After growing up on a Soviet military base in the Arctic Circle, she obtained a degree in International Journalism from Kyiv National University and later moved to Hollywood.
Her resume included roles on the sets of Treacle, Archenemy, Crossing Point, and In Absentia, according to .
Hutchins was married to Matthew Hutchins and had a 10-year-old son, Andros.