Alec Baldwin claims that he did not shoot Halyna Hutchins on the set of Rust.
The actor who accidentally shot and killed Hutchins and injured Souza on the set of the film, has opened up about how he accidentally shot and killed Hutchins. He made the statements in an interview with George Stephanopoulos.
Baldwin's new claims seem to contradict other crew members' statements and what has been reported in several search warrant affidavits by Santa Fe County authorities. The investigation into how live rounds ended up in the long-barrel Colt.45 on the set of the low-budget Western was further complicated by them.
Baldwin said that the Trigger wasn't pulled when Stephanopoulos pointed out that it wasn't in the script. I didn't fire.
You never pulled the gun? Stephanopoulos responded.
Baldwin said no. I wouldn't point a gun at anyone and shoot them. Never.
According to the affidavits released by the Santa Fe County Sheriff's Office, the prop-gun was fired by Alec Baldwin. Souza told investigators that Baldwin was practicing a cross draw in a pew in the building and suddenly there was a loud pop.
The script supervisor who was standing 4 feet away from Baldwin when he shot his gun, called the police, and filed a lawsuit against the actor. The script didn't call for the gun to be discharged.
Two veteran industry armorers said that it is possible to fire a gun without pulling the trigger. If the hammer is back to normal, it would only take a small movement to fire the gun.
When only dummy rounds are allowed on sets, investigators are trying to answer the question of how a live round wound up in the gun. New documents from the sheriff's office show how live and inert rounds may have been mixed together in a box, potentially bearing the same manufacturer's logo. The warrant said that the ammo came from various sources, one of which is a supplier in Albuquerque named PDQ Arm & Prop. The recycled bullet components might have been the reason for the ammo.
Baldwin said he had no idea how a real bullet got onto the set of Rust. Someone put a live bullet in a gun, a bullet that wasn't supposed to be on the property.
Baldwin cried and buried his face in his hands when he described Hutchins.
He said that Hutchins was loved by everyone who worked with her and liked by everyone who worked with her.
Even now, I find it hard to believe. It doesn't seem real to me.
Stephanopoulos asked Baldwin if this was the worst thing that had ever happened to him.
Yes. Yes. He said yes. What could I have done?
Baldwin's interview will be included in a two-hour episode of ABC's "20/20" about the death of Halyna Hutchins on the set of Rust.
