Alec Baldwin was told the gun he was handed was unloaded, say authorities

Alec Baldwin was drawing a revolver across his body and pointing it at a camera during rehearsals for Rust when the weapon fired and struck the cinematographer in the chest, according to an affidavit released on Sunday.

The document provided additional details about Thursday’s accidental shooting in New Mexico that killed 42-year-old Halyna Hutchins and wounded director Joel Souza. Baldwin had been handed the prop gun and told it was unloaded, authorities in Santa Fe have said in court papers.

“Joel stated that they had Alec sitting in a pew in a church building setting and he was practising a cross draw. Joel said he was looking over the shoulder of (Hutchins) when he heard what sounded like a whip and then loud pop,” the affidavit read.

“Joel then vaguely remembers (Hutchins) complaining about her stomach and grabbing her midsection. Joel also said (Hutchins) began to stumble backwards and she was assisted to the ground,” the affidavit added.

Hutchins said she could not feel her legs, Reid Russel, a cameraman who was standing next to her at the time of the shooting, told officials.

A distraught Baldwin, 63, was photographed on Saturday outside a hotel in Santa Fe embracing and talking with Matt Hutchins, the husband of Halyna Hutchins, and their nine-year-old son.

In a statement read to a candlelight vigil on Saturday, Hutchins called his wife’s death “an enormous loss”.

No one has been charged in the incident and investigations are continuing.

According to the Los Angeles Times, more than a week ago Baldwin’s stunt double accidentally fired two rounds from a prop firearm after being told it was 'cold', an industry term meaning a weapon is not loaded with ammunition, including blanks.

Multiple media and social media reports have raised concerns about safety protocols on the set of the low-budget movie. Souza and Russel described a walkout by a camera crew before the accident.

“Reid stated that the camera crew was having issues with production involving payment and housing,” the affidavit read, adding that Russel said six individuals walked out.

Serge Svetnoy, chief electrician for Rust, said in a Facebook post on Sunday that he had held Hutchins in his arms while she was dying and blamed “negligence and unprofessionalism” for her death.

Celebrity website TMZ.com, citing unidentified sources connected to the production, said the gun handed to Baldwin had previously been used by crew members for target practice off-set, using real bullets.

Reuters could not verify the report and police did not respond to inquiries.

According to the Los Angeles Times, more than a week ago Baldwin’s stunt double accidentally fired two rounds from a prop firearm after being told it was “cold”, an industry term meaning a weapon is not loaded with ammunition, including blanks.

Rust Movie Productions said last week that though it was “not made aware of any official complaints concerning weapon or prop safety on set, we will be conducting an internal review of our procedures while production is shut down”.

According to court documents, the prop gun was handed to Baldwin by the film’s assistant director, Dave Halls, who has more than 20 years’ experience in the business.

Halls did not respond to requests for comment. Also involved in the sheriff’s probe is the movie’s chief armourer, Hannah Gutierrez. She could not be reached for comment.

About 200 people took part in the vigil for Hutchins. While organisers emphasised that the event was to honour her memory, rather than focus on her death, some in the crowd held signs that read “Safety on Set”.

— Reuters