Additional information continues to trickle out in the “Rust” movie on-set shooting death of director of photography Halyna Hutchins and wounding of the film’s director Joel Souza. It seems that Baldwin wore dual hats as both the star as well as the producer of the film. Authorities now acknowledge the obvious: the prop gun “loaded with blanks” was indeed a real gun that was loaded with at least one live round. And there’s more . . .
In movies, the producer supervises all manner of the movie’s production. Again, Baldwin was producing this western period piece. Someone approved the use of live firearms (as opposed to inert prop guns or blank firing replicas) on the set, and the producer – Baldwin -was ultimately responsible for approving that decision either tacitly or directly. And someone on the set brought live ammunition to feed that real firearm, a cardinal safety sin.
As far as a criminal investigation, Yahoo News reported that Baldwin was interrogated by Santa Fe County Sheriff’s investigators and later released. As of now, no criminal charges have been filed . . .
What has happened to Baldwin? –
The 63-year-old Emmy-winning actor was interviewed by detectives investigating the incident.
The sheriff’s office said Baldwin had attended voluntarily, had answered questions and provided statements and then left. He was not arrested.
A spokesman for the sheriff said the investigation is ongoing.
Baldwin tweeted Friday that he was “fully cooperating” with the police inquiry.
Also, some of Alec Baldwin’s old tweets are not aging well. He showed his hostility towards gun rights, the NRA, and Dana Loesch back in 2018 . . .
I see that @DLoesch wants to “take back the truth.”
And she doesn’t care how many dead bodies she has to step over in that pursuit.
The Second Amendment is not a moral credit card that buys you all the guns you want.
That law needs to be rethought.— AlecBaldwin(HABF) (@AlecBaldwin) March 5, 2018
And then there is this from Baldwin a year earlier.
I wonder how it must feel to wrongfully kill someone…https://t.co/WE6QsAAXGI
— AlecBaldwin (@AlecBaldwln____) September 23, 2017
CNN reports that the local prosecutor’s office is evaluating the evidence . . .
It is unclear if charges will be filed in the death of Halyna Hutchins, the New Mexico district attorney’s office said in a statement.
New Mexico First Judicial District Attorney Mary Carmack-Altwies’ office said in the statement sent to CNN that they are still in the preliminary stages of the investigation.
“We will look into all facts and evidence of the case with great discretion and have further information at a later time. Our thoughts are with all affected by this tragedy,” Carmack-Altwies’ statement said.
Finally, Yahoo News reported on an interview Baldwin did promoting his new flick, comparing it to one of Clint Eastwood’s best films. Yahoo News has it . . .
Baldwin compared “Rust” to “Unforgiven” in an interview, telling The Hollywood Reporter he was ready to saddle up for a Western because his skills including “my horseback riding, my gunplay” were “right at my fingertips at all times.”
So a Hollywood hypocrite who has spent so much of his adult life campaigning for gun control for the little people brags that his skills including “gunplay” are right at his fingertips. Maybe he was too busy working on his social media game to learn the four rules of gun safety.
Stay tuned.
