Rust cameraman returns to LA & says he’s helping investigators after witnessing cinematographer shot dead on set
THE cameraman who worked alongside Halyna Hutchins on the set of Rust is now helping investigators after witnessing the horrific moment Alec Baldwin shot her, leaving the director “covered in blood.”
Exclusive shots obtained by The Sun show Reid Russell dropping his children off at school and picking up a Starbucks after being reunited with his family in California following the tragedy in Santa Fe, New Mexico.
The Sun approached Russell, who declined to comment on Halyna’s shocking death, but said he’s in contact with her heartbroken husband Matthew and investigators in New Mexico.
Armorer Hannah Guiterrez-Reed, 24, and assistant director Dave Halls have both been trashed by colleagues past and present for their alleged conduct on set, while experts say criminal charges could be brought.
DISTURBING DETAILS
Russell, President of Eyetrigger Pictures, Inc, has worked on a number of big Hollywood movies, including The Day After Tomorrow, The Patriot, and The Whole Ted Yards, according to his IMDB profile.
Before the devastating shooting, the cameraman referenced IATSE strikes [the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees] on Facebook, sharing: “Greedy corporations have refused to negotiate further with our Union.”
He also encouraged: “If we have to go so far as to strike please cancel your streaming services if only for a month.”
In an affidavit for a search warrant of the set, Russell tells how director Joel Souza was covered in blood as Halyna screamed that she “couldn’t feel her legs” after the fatal shot was fired.
When asked about how Baldwin handled the firearm, Russell told Santa Fe Sheriff’s Department Detective Joel Cano: “Alec had been very careful, and brought up an instance when a scene was being filmed earlier.
“Reid said Alec had made sure it was safe and that a child wasn’t near him when they were discharging a firearm during that scene.”
The cameraman also revealed the actor had taken the gun out of its holster and the shooting was not caught on camera.
“He said Alec was trying to explain how he was going to draw out the firearm and where his arm would be at when the firearm was pulled from the holster,” Cano recounted Russell’s words.
“Reid was not sure why the firearm was discharged and just remembered the loud bang from the firearm.”
Russell had previously posted on Instagram that Halyna, 42, was the one who brought him on to work on the film.
Alongside a picture with the cinematographer, he wrote: “Always wanted to shoot a Western! Thank you @halynahutchins for bringing me on Rust.”
Cano also questioned Souza, who revealed that Baldwin was “sitting in a pew in a church building setting, and he was practicing a cross draw” when the fatal shot went off.
“Joel said he was looking over the shoulder of Halyna, when he heard what sounded like a whip and then loud pop.”
“Joel also said Halyna began to stumble backwards and she was assisted to the ground.
“Joel explained that he was bleeding from his shoulder and he could see blood on Halyna.”
UP IN ARMS
Both Russell and Halyna were members of IATSE, of which several people reportedly walked off the Rust set in protest of “poor gun safety” just hours before the shots were fired.
In text messages obtained by the New York Post, one Rust employee previously said: “Last night we wrote resignation letters.
“We cited everything from lack of payment for three weeks, taking our hotels away despite asking for them in our deals, lack of COVID safety (and on) top of that, poor gun safety!
“Poor on set safety, period! We wrote about this exact issue last night and walked this morning because of it!”
An on-set source also told The Sun they felt movie makers were “cutting corners to save a buck.
“I wouldn’t go back to the set if I was asked, it’s cursed,” they said.
The walkout happened due to frustration from camera operators and their assistants over issues like long hours and pay, according to a number of outlets.
A production staff member reportedly ordered union members to leave the set and said if they didn’t leave, they would call security and they would be removed.
An email from IATSE Local 44, obtained by Indie Wire, called the incident an “accidental weapons discharge.”
It read: “A live single round was accidentally fired on set by the principal actor, hitting both the Director of Photography, Local 600 member Halyna Hutchins, and Director Joel Souza.
“Local 44 has confirmed that the Props, Set Decoration, Special Effects, and Construction Departments were staffed by New Mexico crew members.
“There were no Local 44 members on the call sheet.”
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