Witness testimonies from the ill-fated film set where Alec Baldwin fired and struck two people have emerged, including that of injured director Joel Souza.
Court documents and previously unreleased statements from Souza and another cameraman on the set of Rust were released by the Santa Fe County Sherriff’s Office.
As reported by the New York Times, the affidavit cites Detective Joel Cano using it to seize “everything from camera memory cards to bone fragments and firearm discharge”. The warrant was granted.
A final photograph taken on set shows Alec Baldwin amongst the pews inside a small wooden church, rehearsing a scene with a prop revolver.
Slain cinematographer Halyna Hutchins can be seen with five other cast and crew members scattered around the set.
Souza is standing beside Hutchins, “viewing the camera angle”.
Alec Baldwin was practising a cross draw, bringing the weapon across his body and pointing it at the camera lens, when it fired and struck the pair.
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“Joel said he was looking over the shoulder of Halyna, when he heard what sounded like a whip and then loud pop,” the affidavit reads.
“Joel then vaguely remembers (Hutchins) complaining about her stomach and grabbing her midsection.
“Joel also said (Hutchins) began to stumble backwards and she was assisted to the ground.
“Joel explained that he was bleeding from his shoulder and he could see blood on Halyna.”
Alec Baldwin was handed the gun by the assistant director, Dave Halls, and had fired after Halls had yelled, “Cold gun”.
The film’s “rookie” head armourer, Hannah Gutierrez Reed, has shut down all of her social media accounts following the incident.
She had appeared on the “Voices of the West” podcast just last month, telling them the “best part” of her job was proving “how safe” guns are, describing her role with Rust as a “pretty sweet gig”.
Listen to ‘Rust’ head armourer Hannah Reed on ‘Voices of the West’:
