A member of the production yelled "cold weapon" as he handed the prop weapon to Alec Baldwin, according to a court document
An assistant director handed Alec Baldwin a prop gun and yelled "cold weapon" before the actor shot and killed cinematographer Halyna Hutchins and wounded director Joel Souza, according to a court document.
The "cold weapon" comment was intended to indicate that the weapon had no live ammunition, according to an affidavit of a search warrant for the film set filed by the Santa Fe County Sheriff's Office and obtained by KOAT, CNN affiliate.
According to the affidavit, Assistant Director David Halls presented Baldwin with one of three prop guns that a gunsmith placed in a cart.
Halls did not know there were live bullets in the weapon, the affidavit said.
But when the actor fired the gun, a bullet hit Hutchins, 42, in the chest and wounded Souza, 48, who was nearby, according to the affidavit. Hutchins was pronounced dead at the hospital after being airlifted, the affidavit says.
But before Thursday's incident, some team members left production over concerns related to safety issues, including gun safety procedures and covid-19 protocols that were not followed, according to the Los Angeles Times and other reports from the media.
Three members who were on set last weekend told the Times that there were two accidental discharges of props before Thursday.
The rounds were accidentally fired Oct. 16 by Baldwin's doppelganger after he was told the gun was "cold," two of the production members who witnessed the volleys told the newspaper.
The film's production company told Deadline in a statement that it was not notified of any official complaints about the safety of weapons or accessories on set.
"We will conduct an internal review of our procedures while production is closed," Rust Movie Productions, LLC said in the statement. "The safety of our cast and crew is the highest priority for Rust Productions and everyone associated with the company."
CNN has made several attempts to contact Rust Movie Productions for comment, but has not received a response.
La Armera expressed doubts about the level of experience
Hannah Gutierrez, the film's gunsmith, had recently finished her first project as chief gunsmith, she said in a podcast interview in September.
Gutierrez was identified as the gunsmith who "installed" the prop gun used by Baldwin, according to a search warrant issued by the Santa Fe County Sheriff's Office on Friday.
"She was really nervous at first," Gutierrez said of her job as chief gunsmith on the set of the movie "The Old Way," starring Nicolas Cage.
"I almost didn't take the job because I wasn't sure if she was ready, but doing it, it all went very well," she said in an interview on the Voices of the West podcast, which is dedicated to The Old West.
"It's really cool ... a really badass way to start a really long and cool career I hope," Gutierrez added.
Gutierrez said her father, Thell Reed - a gunsmith and stuntman - began passing her gun knowledge on to her when she was 16 years old. Although she studied filmmaking and aspired to acting, she said, the transition to gunsmith seemed natural.
"I tried it with Dad once and then I realized that I had a natural gift for it: growing up around guns all my life," she said Gutierrez.
Her job as her gunsmith ranges from teaching actors how to wear a gun belt to aiming and shooting, she said.
"I have to show them how to keep them straight, make it look like they're aiming at something and you also have to teach them about the recoil," she said Gutierrez.
She added, "These blank cartridges don't really have a recoil similar to that of normal bullets. To make it look more realistic, [I] tell the actors to create a little movement with their wrist."
'Make sure the gun is really cold'
"Cold weapons" should not be loaded, particularly during rehearsals, a weapons expert told CNN on Friday.
"You have to make sure the gun is really cold, which means there shouldn't have been ammo in there, period. And especially if it's a rehearsal," Bryan Carpenter, gunsmith and weapons master in the film industry, told CNN.
Carpenter added that while it is acceptable for some actors to want to get an idea of a weapon during rehearsals, it is crucial to ensure that the prop guns are not crammed with ammunition. He noted that weapons on the sets must be confirmed "cold" by two people to avoid such tragic incidents.
Despite safety measures, fatal production accidents have occurred.
While filming the movie "The Raven" in 1993, actor Brandon Lee, son of Bruce Lee, died in an accident with a firearm.
Even blank ammunition can be deadly if fired at close range. In 1984, actor John-Eric Hexum was playing with a gun on the set of "Cover Up: Golden Opportunity" and died after putting the gun to his head and pulling the trigger.
Propmaster Joseph Fisher told CNN on Friday that even when there is no "bullet" in a support pistol, there are still projectiles, gunpowder and gas, which can be dangerous within a certain range.
Several agencies are investigating how this incident occurred
The movie called "Rust," which was filming at Bonanza Creek Ranch in New Mexico, starred Baldwin, who is also a producer on the movie.
A 911 call obtained by KOAT offered a glimpse into the minutes after the incident. A crew member told the operator that two people had been "accidentally" shot on set.
"We need help. They have shot a director and a camera," a woman told the operator. "I was sitting, we were rehearsing and it was over, and I ran, we all ran."
Baldwin said Friday that he is in contact with the Hutchins family.
"There are no words to express my shock and sadness over the tragic accident that took the life of Halyna Hutchins, our deeply admired wife, mother and colleague," Baldwin tweeted.
"I fully cooperate with the police investigation to address how this tragedy occurred and I am in contact with her husband, offering my support to him and his family. My heart is broken for her husband, her son and all who knew and loved Halyna." .
According to the affidavit, all firearms and ammunition, cameras and computer equipment, and clothing worn by the actors at the time of the shooting were to be seized.
Baldwin's clothing appeared to be stained with blood, according to the Santa Fe County Sheriff's Office affidavit.
The New Mexico Office of Occupational Safety and Health is investigating.
"The production company reported the death and injuries to OHSB last night, in accordance with workplace safety laws. OHSB is investigating the incident in coordination with law enforcement, the employer and employees," said the agency in a statement.
The Santa Fe County Sheriff's Office also secured the scene of the shooting, spokesman Juan Ríos said.
