As Alec Baldwin defends ‘Rust’ production, armorer from reported on-set strife, discrepancies emerge

As the investigation into the shooting death of Halyna Hutchins on the set of the movie “Rust” continues, clear discrepancies are emerging among crew members and producers like Alec Baldwin regarding the incident as well as conditions on set prior.

However, he has shared a few brief comments on social media in which he seemingly denies culpability on behalf of the production for an allegedly rushed and corner-cutting set. He also seems to join those who believe assistant director Dave Halls is responsible for the incident. Halls was one of very few people, including armorer Hannah Gutierrez Reed, who handled the gun prior to Baldwin discharging a real bullet. 

Santa Fe County Sheriff Adan Mendoza said the investigation will focus on the people who held the gun as well as figuring out how live rounds made their way to the set at all. According to a search warrant previously executed by the sheriff’s department, Halls noted during an interview with detectives that he should have checked the rounds in the gun better after being handed the gun by Gutierrez Reed, who also believed it was filled with dummy rounds incapable of discharging.