After accidentally setting off a weapon, a young woman in the props department of Rust was injured and had to be shot in the foot.
The round was empty and it is unknown if she sustained any serious injuries from the firing.
However, this incident is not the only accidental weapon discharge that took place on set during the days preceding Alec Baldwin’s fatal shooting of Halyna Utchins, cinematographer.
A young woman who worked in Rust’s props department accidentally shot herself in the foot after a weapon accidentally went off. It came in the days before cinematographer Halyna Hutchins was killed after a gun was accidentally discharged by actor Alec Baldwin
Alec Baldwin, a veteran actor, discharged the prop firearm. However, it appears that there were several incidents in the days preceding the fatal shooting.
Crew members claim that weapons were accidentally fired three more times.
Apart from the woman from the props department, Baldwin’s stunt double also accidentally fired a blank. Baldwin had also said that his gun was cold.
The term mean there was no live ammunition in the firearm.
The details have been revealed in a report by the Los Angeles Times which has attempted to detail the events leading up to Hutchins tragic death with the help of Lane Luper, the A-camera first assistant.
Luper stated that crew members were always more important than the budget. ‘Everything was about schedule and budget.
‘So far there have been 2 accidental weapons discharges and 1 accidental SFX explosives that have gone off around the crew between takes… To be clear there are NO safety meetings these days,’ Luper said in a resignation email, sent one day before Badwin’s fatal shot.
“There was no explanation as to what to expect from these shots. Production staff are often asked the same questions about their lack of time or if they rehearse.
Luper stated in an email that was seen by NBC News, “In my 10 years of being a camera assistant, I’ve never worked for a show that cares as little for the safety its crew,”
Much of the blame for the death on set has been directed towards Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, the armorer who oversaw the prop weapons used on the Rust movie set
According to Fox News, the reports of accidental firings match what Hannah Gutierrez-Reed’s lawyers, an armorer who oversaw the weapons used in the Rust movie set had told Fox News.
Robert Gorence and Jason Bowles from New Mexico wrote that Hannah’s safety was their top priority.
She also explained how two accidental releases had occurred on the set.
They said that the prop master was the first and the stunt man was the second. Hannah had informed them that the gun was hot with blanks.
The lawyers also tried shifting the blame for the death of armorer Gutierrez Reed to a more general overview about the lack of resources that would have guaranteed the safety and security of those working on the set.
“She fought for training and days to maintain weapons, and the proper time to prepare for gunfire, but was ultimately overruled by production and her Department.”
Alec Baldwin is seen speaking on the phone in the hours after the October 21st shooting in which cinematographer Halyna Hutchins was killed and director Joel Souza was wounded