Santa Fe authorities are not ready to lay responsibility in a fatal movie set shooting Thursday involving actorAlec Baldwin.
“It’s too early in the investigation to comment on charges,” Santa Fe Sheriff Adan Mendoza said during a press conference Wednesday abouttheRustshooting that killed cinematographer Halyna Hutchins.
For more on the shooting on theRustset, listen below toour daily podcast PEOPLE Every Day.
Since the shooting last Thursday, which alsoleft director Joel Souza injured, questions have swirled about what caused the tragedy.
According to asearch warrant affidavitfrom the Santa Fe County sheriff’s office, assistant directorDavid Hallshanded Baldwin a gun for a rehearsal, yelling “Cold Gun!” to indicate that it was not loaded and safe to handle. Baldwin then shot the gun during the scene, hitting Hutchins and Souza.
Alec Baldwin; Halyna Hutchins.Jesse Grant/Getty; Anthony Harvey/Getty Images
Neither Halls nor Baldwin knew that the gun had live ammunition in it, according to the affidavit.
Carmack-Altwies told theNew York Timesthat detectives found a large amount of ammunition on theRustset, and pointed outthat while described as a prop gun, the weapon was “a legit gun.”
“There were an enormous amount of bullets on this set, and we need to find out what kinds they were,” she said.
Carmack-Altwies did not specify what kind of ammunition was found, nor was it listed in the inventory.
Halyna Hutchins.James Gourley/Shutterstock
Several cast and crew members havespoken outabout the conditions on theRustset in the wake of the tragedy.
Alec Baldwin.Jim Weber/Santa Fe New Mexican
Ian A. Hudson, an actor in the movie, described filming one scene to TMZ as “life-threatening,” while gaffer Serge Svetnoy blamed Hutchins' death on “negligence and unprofessionalism.”
As for Baldwin, who fired the gun thinking it was safe to do so, trial attorney David Ring told PEOPLE that while he doesn’t think the actor will “have criminal culpability” in the actual shooting of Hutchins, Baldwincould face criminal chargesfor his role as one of the producers of the film.
The investigation remains ongoing, withproduction on the film halted. No charges have been filed.
source: people.com
