A new search warrant affidavit obtained by The New York Times has revealed why actor Alec Baldwin had a gun with a live round in it. As Mamas Uncut previously reported, tragedy struck on the set of Baldwin’s newest movie, Rust, in which he stars and produces.
According to previous reports, Baldwin accidentally struck the director of photography and the director of the movie with a live bullet. Forty-eight-year-old Joel Souza is expected to recover from his injuries, but sadly, 42-year-old Halyna Hutchins died from her injuries.
In a statement issued on his Twitter feed, Baldwin wrote that “there are no words to convey my shock and sadness regarding the tragic accident that took the life of Halyna Hutchins, a wife, mother, and deeply admired colleague of ours.”
“I’m fully cooperating with the police investigation to address how this tragedy occurred and I am in touch with her husband, offering my support to him and his family. My heart is broken for her husband, their son, and all who knew and loved Halyna,” Baldwin continued.
Affidavit Reveals Who Handed Alec Baldwin the Prop Gun With a Live Round in It
Now, the affidavit has revealed that Baldwin had no idea the prop gun he was using had a live round in it. It was additionally reported that Alec Baldwin was handed the gun by the assistant director of the movie. The assistant director also did not know the prop gun had a bullet in it.
The assistant director reportedly picked up the prop gun from a rolling cart “prepared by the armorer” before handing it to Baldwin after yelling “cold gun!” Cold gun is a term used on set to indicate that a prop gun that is not loaded and is safe to handle was being used.
According to the legal document, after Baldwin pulled the trigger, the bullet fatally struck Halyna Hutchins in the chest. Souza was standing directly behind Hutchins when the bullet then hit him in the shoulder.
The affidavit suggested that Baldwin was rehearsing the scene when tragedy struck. What is next in the investigation is unclear. It’s also unclear if anyone is facing any criminal charges.