To make sure you never miss out on your favourite NEW stories, we're happy to send you some reminders

Click 'OK' then 'Allow' to enable notifications

Rust Assistant Director Didn't Check All Rounds Before Giving Alec Baldwin Gun

Rust Assistant Director Didn't Check All Rounds Before Giving Alec Baldwin Gun

The Rust assistant director didn't check every round before giving the gun that killed Halyna Hutchins to Alec Baldwin

Tom Wood

Tom Wood

The assistant director of Rust has said to police that he didn't check every single round in the gun barrel to make sure that they were false bullets before the fatal shooting of Halyna Hutchins.

David Halls said that the armourer for the film, Hannah Gutierrez-Reed 'showed him' the gun that was later held by Alec Baldwin at the time of the shooting 'before continuing rehearsal' and he could only remember seeing 'three rounds'.

This is according to an affidavit filed on Wednesday by the Santa Fe County Magistrate, which also stated that Mr Halls 'advised he should have checked all of them, but didn't and couldn't recall' if Gutierrez-Reed 'spun the drum' before the gun was used.

When asked about the safety protocols that were in place on the set for the use of guns, Mr Halls said: "I check the barrel for obstructions, most of the time there's no live fire."

The set of Rust at Bonanza Creek Ranch.
Alamy

He added: "[Ms Gutierrez-Reed] opens the hatch and spins the drum, and I say 'cold gun' on set."

It was confirmed earlier that the gun used on set was a .45 Long Colt which had a live bullet in the chamber.

Police have yet to charge anyone, but have not ruled it out.

Director Joel Souza, who was injured in the incident, had a 'lead projectile' removed from his shoulder, according to law enforcement officials.

It was 'apparently the same round' that killed Ms Hutchins.

A vigil was held for Halyna Hutchins.
Alamy

The affidavit also stated that Ms Gutierrez-Reed had examined the 'dummies' on the day of the incident and 'ensured that they were not 'hot' rounds' before the weapons were 'secured inside a safe on the prop truck' whilst the crew broke for lunch.

The affidavit continued: "During lunch, [Ms Gutierrez-Reed] stated the ammo was left on a cart on the set, not secured."

She told detectives that after lunch another member of the crew - Sarah Zachary - 'pulled the firearms out of the safe inside the truck, and handed them to her'.

Gutierrez-Reed also said that very few people knew the combination to the safe.

The legal document stated: "During the course of filming, Hannah advised she handed the gun to Alec Baldwin a couple [of] times, and also handed it to David Halls,

"When Affiant (the person filing the affidavit) asked about live ammo on set, Hannah responded no live ammo is ever kept on set."

Santa Fe Sheriff Adam Mendoza.
Alamy

Santa Fe Sheriff Mendoza said that the investigation of the set turned up 500 rounds of ammunition, which included blanks, dummies, and suspected live ammunition.

"We know there was one live round, as far as we're concerned, on set," he said.

The affidavit read: "Hannah then was told to 'open' the gun so he could see what was inside. David advised he could only remember seeing at least four 'dummy' casings with the hole on the side, and one without the hole,"

Mr Halls confirmed that he 'advised that this round did not have the cap on it and was just the casing'.

"David advised the incident was not a deliberate act", it continued.

Featured Image Credit: Alamy

Topics: World News, TV and Film, US News, US Entertainment