Rustassistant director David Halls, who handedAlec Baldwina prop gun moments before thefatal on-set shooting last week, was reportedly terminated from a previous film after a situation involving a firearm injured a crew member.
Halls was the assistant director on 2019’sFreedom’s Pathwhen a gun unexpectedly discharged on the Arkansas set. A crew member from the sound department reportedly jumped back from the blast and incurred an injury, the film’s producers toldDeadlineandCNN.
“Halls was removed from set immediately after the prop gun discharged. Production did not resume filming until Dave was off-site,” producers told both outlets. “An incident report was taken and filed at that time.”
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The unnamed producers also told CNN that Halls “was very remorseful for the events, and understood the reasons he was being terminated.”
“A new assistant director as well as a new armorer were hired for the duration of principal photography. Production of the film finished successfully,” producers added to CNN.
Alec Baldwin; Halyna Hutchins.Jim Spellman/Getty; Fred Hayes/Getty
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As he retrieved the weapon, Halls yelled “Cold Gun!” (a phrase that is meant to indicate that the gun is not loaded and is safe to handle). Neither Baldwin nor Halls were aware that there were live rounds in the gun.
Halls has not commented publicly on the situation.
Halyna Hutchins.James Gourley/Shutterstock
Baldwin firstspoke outregarding the incident on Friday morning, writing on Twitter, “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,” he continued. “My heart is broken for her husband, their son, and all who knew and loved Halyna.”
TheRustfilm set has been shut down and production indefinitely paused following Hutchins' death, according to the production company, Rust Movie Productions, LLC.
source: people.com
