Dave Halls, first assistant on the set of the film “Rust,” was sentenced to 6 months probation on Friday following a settlement.
The first assistant director of the film “Rust,” on whose set actor and producer Alec Baldwin accidentally killed the cinematographer, was sentenced to a six-month suspended sentence on Friday after an admission.
This is the first conviction in this case, here for negligence in the use of a deadly weapon.
It was that first assistant, Dave Halls, who on October 21, 2021 gave Alec Baldwin a gun to be loaded with blanks activated by the actor, killing Halyna Hutchins and injuring director Joel Souza.
Dave Halls, 63, had given him the gun and told him it was “cold” or, in Hollywood lingo, not dangerous.
Charged but not yet convicted
Alec Baldwin and filming gunsmith Hannah Gutierrez-Reed have both been charged with manslaughter and face up to 18 months in prison and a $5,000 fine.
In particular, the police investigation focused on how live ammunition was found during this strictly forbidden shooting on a New Mexico ranch, precisely to avoid accidents.
Police have concluded that Hannah Gutierrez-Reed put the ammunition in the gun used by Alec Baldwin instead of a dummy bullet.
Prosecutor Kari Morrissey estimated during Friday’s hearing in a New Mexico court that Dave Halls, who also took on the role of security coordinator for the low-budget filming and thus represented the “last line of defense,” did not “check every cartridge.” in the gun to confirm they were blanks”.
Alec Baldwin, 64, best known for 30 Rock, has always said he was assured his gun was harmless.
By pleading guilty Friday, Dave Halls agreed to testify on the matter in the future.