Rust Assistant Director Gives Emotional Testimony on Fatal Set Shooting
In a heartbreaking court testimony on Thursday, February 29, Rust assistant director David Halls opened up about the tragic shooting incident that took the life of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins and injured director Joel Souza. Halls, who also served as the film’s safety coordinator, recounted the events leading up to the fatal incident.
“It wasn’t computing. My thought was that a blank round had been loaded,” Halls shared in court, referring to the moment when actor Alec Baldwin held the prop gun in the direction of Hutchins and Souza. He revealed that he had performed a safety check on the revolver prior to the incident. However, when the gun unexpectedly discharged, Halls rushed to Hutchins’ side after she fell to the ground.
With tears in his eyes, Halls recalled Hutchins’ words as he reached her. “She said, ‘I can’t feel my legs,'” he tearfully recounted. The emotional impact of witnessing such a tragic event was evident as Halls gave his testimony.
In March 2023, Halls faced legal consequences for his role in the incident. He was charged with negligent use of a deadly weapon and accepted a plea deal that sentenced him to six months of unsurprised probation. During his testimony, Halls acknowledged his negligence and admitted to improperly checking the gun before the accident occurred.
Furthermore, Halls revealed his decision to testify during the ongoing trial of Rust armorer Hannah Gutierrez, who is facing involuntary manslaughter charges. Despite Gutierrez’s claim of innocence, Halls felt it was important for Hutchins’ family, as well as the cast, crew, and industry professionals involved in Rust, to know the truth about what happened.
“It’s important that Halyna’s husband and son, her family, know the truth of what happened,” Halls expressed. “It’s important that the cast and the crew, producers of Rust know what happened. And it’s important that the industry, the motion picture and television industry, knows what happened so that this never happens again.”
The incident occurred in October 2021 while Rust, a western film starring Alec Baldwin, was in production. Baldwin, holding a prop gun, unintentionally discharged it, injuring both Souza and Hutchins. They were immediately rushed to the hospital, where Hutchins tragically succumbed to her injuries at the age of 42. Souza, on the other hand, eventually recovered from his injuries.
Following the incident, Baldwin expressed his shock and sadness in a statement. “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,” he wrote. Baldwin assured authorities of his full cooperation in the investigation and reached out to Hutchins’ husband to offer support.
In an ABC News interview several months later, Baldwin maintained that he did not pull the trigger or know that the gun was loaded. “I would never point a gun at anyone and pull the trigger at them. Never. I have no idea [how a bullet got in there],” he asserted. The actor firmly believed that someone had irresponsibly placed a live bullet in the prop gun without his knowledge.
In January, it was confirmed that Baldwin had been indicted for involuntary manslaughter and had requested a speedy trial to minimize public scrutiny. The trial proceedings have yet to commence, leaving many waiting for answers and justice to be served.
The Rust set shooting was a devastating event that shook the film industry to its core. It exposed the importance of proper safety protocols on movie sets and raised questions about accountability. As the trial continues and more testimonies are heard, it is hoped that lessons will be learned and measures will be taken to prevent similar tragedies from occurring in the future.
