Alec Baldwin breaks his silence and refers to his “friend” Halyna Hutchins and weapons on the sets

First modification: 10/31/2021 – 16:03

“She was my friend!”. This is how actor Alec Baldwin referred to the late cinematographer Halyna Hutchins, in a video posted on the TMZ website. Visibly dejected, the comedian gave some details and said that he had had dinner with Hutchins and the director of the film Joel Souza upon his arrival in Santa Fe (state of New Mexico) for the filming of the western ‘Rust’.

“We were a very, very close-knit film crew, filming together and then … this horrible event happened.”

“I am not at liberty to comment as there is an ongoing investigation!” Baldwin repeated several times at the insistence of the paparazzi who were chasing him in the small town of Manchester in the state of Vermont, where he and his family have taken refuge since the tragedy.

During the tense but courteous exchange with the photographers, Baldwin was accompanied by his wife, Hilaria, who was filming the scene on her phone. The actor and also producer of ‘Rust’ declared that he wanted to speak so that the photographers would stop harassing him and his family.

Baldwin deplored the incident that he called “one in a billion” and said he remains in close contact with Hutchins’ husband.

“He is in ‘shock’, he has a nine-year-old son. We are in constant contact with him because we are very concerned about his family and his son. As I said, we are anxiously waiting for the sheriff tell us what your investigation has found. “

The investigation into the death of Hutchins continues its course

“Cold weapon!” Was the assistant director’s warning before handing Baldwin a pistol for a test run.

However, when Baldwin pulled the trigger in one of his gestures, he fired a live bullet that fatally wounded the 42-year-old Hutchins in the chest and hit director Joel Souza in the shoulder. The investigation to determine what has happened is ongoing.

The sheriff of Santa Fe County, Adán Mendoza, said that up to 500 rounds of ammunition were found on the set of the film and New Mexico inspectors have declared that there was “some complacency” in the handling of the weapons during filming, but that still it is too early to determine whether charges will be filed.

District Attorney Mary Carmack-Altwies said investigators cannot yet say whether it was negligence. He called the incident a complex case that will require further investigation and analysis.

Detectives have recovered a lead projectile that they believe the actor fired, while they are conducting tests to confirm whether the projectile removed from Souza’s shoulder was fired from the same Colt revolver used by Baldwin.

Joel Souza, who was behind Hutchins, told investigators that live ammunition should never be near filming locations. Since the accident, calls for tighter control of firearms on Hollywood sets have grown louder.

When a paparazzi Asked Baldwin if he would work on a shooting set with firearms again, the actor stated that he “cannot answer.”

“I know there is an effort to limit the use of weapons on film sets and I am very interested in it,” he said. However, the interpreter noted that many fire projectiles are regularly fired in film and television. “How many bullets have been fired in movies and television shows in the last 75 years?”

Following the tragedy, the film’s production reported that work on the western was on hold at least until the investigation was completed, but suggested it could be resumed at some point. A possibility ruled out this Saturday by the actor and producer of the film who confirmed that filming would not be resumed.

With AP