GIVEN “COLD” GUN, ACTOR ALEC BALDWIN KILLS CINEMATOGRAPHER HALNYA HUTCHINS

 UPDATE:  The whole mystery of this tragic occurrence lies in answering one question:  What came out of the barrel of the gun Alec Baldwin fired in the direction of camera operator Halnya Hutchins.  

Cutting to the case, okay it's a western. You're not going to have a semi-auto drawn from a holster of a guy wearing spurs and a cowboy hat.   You think about revolver then.  

If the script calls for a shot looking at the front end  of a revolver and the camera goes into close-up, you'll see the hollow dark barrel and the bullets in the chambers.  These 'bullets' will be what show business armorers call "dum-dums."

 A dum-dum will look exactly like a real bullet or live round but it will have the gunpowder removed. You will see a projectile on the business end, exactly like a live and deadly round but it will not fire.  

If firing such a weapon is required by a film script, there will be a cut to another shot where the revolver will be loaded to fire  with blank cartridges. Blank cartridges will not have a projectile on the business end, though it may have wadding of some type, harmless to anyone out of blast range.

So the essential question is this:  What kind of projectile exited the barrel of the gun that killed Halnya Hutchins and wounded director John Souza? The best explanation I've heard to date is one by film armorer Dutch Merrick, a true expert in the field.  

There was a lot of information packed into an excellent interview conducted with Merrick by Julie Grant of CourtTV.  It's worth watching for many reasons, but particularly for the possibility mentioned by Merrick that the projectile from a dum-dum worked loose and lodged in the barrel. 

 Without knowing this had occurred, the film armorer might have loaded a blank round into the revolver as is typically done when you need a lot of bang and fire coming out of the gun but with no bullet or projectile.  

If this is what happened, it would be tantamount to firing a live and deadly round - period. If you think this is far-fetched, then watch the interview Julie Grant conducted with Merrick.

 Merrick recounts the story he'd heard regarding the death of /Bruce Lee's son - Brandon Lee.    Here's the link. 

EXT. – DAY – BONANZA CREEK RANCH NEW MEXICO  

A movie production crew waits inside the rustic 1880s chapel-like building for the filming of an American western “Rust,” starring co-producer and major star Alec Baldwin in the role of a wizened grandpappy in flight with his thirteen-year old grandson.

There is to be a shooting scene.  What they’re all waiting for is the six-gun.  Behind the camera is rising cinematography star  Halnya Hutchins, 42.  Behind or next to her is   director Joel Souza, 48. 

Assistant Director Dave Halls goes to a roll-cart where the supposedly tightly controlled prop weapons are kept.  He brings the revolver to Alec Baldwin, describing the piece as a “cold” gun — meaning it was safe to shoot.    The shot is done in closeup. The audience feels the tension. Baldwin is supposed to unholster his gun and point it.  He does this twice, the second time with a bang.  A live round of some sort comes out the barrel killing Hutchins and wounding director Souza.  

Halnya Hutchins is dead of a gunshot wound to the chest.  Souza   is wounded in the shoulder by the same projectile but survives. A horrible thing, a thing that should never happen, a thing that reminds people of Brandon Lee who died in similar fashion on a movie set of the 1990s.

Questions to be Answered

Why are live rounds even allowed to be on a movie set controlled by film people? This is unconscionable. There is absolutely no reason for live rounds to be on the set especially around people who are obviously not familiar with weapons-handling.

The armorer in charge of the weapons is Hannah Gutierrez.  Where she was when Hall picked up the weapon is unknown?  Were the weapons left unattended for any length of time? Was a live round in the cylinder of one of the three guns on the weapons cart?  Were the other revolvers also loaded with live rounds?  Why, why, why?

Why was Assistant Director Halls even allowed to declare the gun was “cold” — meaning safe to operate for filming purposes?

Why were earlier reports by film production staff of unsafe weapons handling practices ignored?

Why did several production staff members walk off the set complaining about pay and working conditions?

What was the caliber of bullet that could pass through Hutchins and strike Souza?  All reports say that there was only one bullet fired but one has to wonder amongst the talk that there was a previous accidental discharge during the week prior to this tragedy.

Editor’s Note:  We offer our sincere condolences and prayers to Halnya Hutchins, her 8 year old child, and husband Matthew, to all those who knew them.  We hope it is accurate that director Souza is recovering and that his recovery continues.