Rust cinematographer Halyna Hutchins’ husband is outraged at the release of bodycam footage showing his wife dying on set after being shot by Alec Baldwin.
Matthew Hutchins’ attorney Brian Panish sent Santa Fe Sheriff Adan Mendoza a scathing email claiming police betrayed the grieving widower.
Hutchins says his timid bullies could use widely shared footage of Hutchins receiving emergency treatment to mock the couple’s nine-year-old son after she was accidentally killed by Hollywood star Baldwin while practicing a scene.
Hutchins claimed the sheriff said he could review all footage before the department releases it to the public, including bodycam footage of his wife being attended to by emergency services as she lay dying on the set of Rust in October 2021 .
He now claims the police department violated the family’s rights to privacy and fairness in New Mexico, saying the family would have the right to review the footage and request redactions before release.
“Your office has trampled on the constitutional rights of Hutchins,” Panish wrote in an email seen by TMZ and the Los Angeles Times.
“We demand that your office respect the constitutional rights of Matthew, Halyna and Andros Hutchins to dignity, privacy, respect and fairness going forward. We also request that your office remove the video footage of Halyna Hutchins dying on the church floor.
“While the damage caused by posting this video is irreparable, removing the video will end your office’s complicity in causing future harm.
Dramatic police bodycam video shows paramedics fighting to save Halyna Hutchin’s life after filming on the Rust movie set
Halyna Hutchins husband Matthew (pictured with their son Andros) has criticized Santa Fe Sheriff Adan Mendoza for releasing footage of his wife dying on the set of Rust after Alec Baldwin shot her. Huthins claimed the sheriff said he could review all footage before the department released it to the public, including the bodycam footage. Under the law, he could have requested redacting of the published information
Mendoza said the footage was released due to the high number of requests the department received
The family also noted the potential trauma the footage could cause to Andros, nine, if bullies used it against him and cause him further harm. It was also claimed that Hutchins first saw the footage on Radar Online.
“The first time Mr Hutchins saw the disturbing and disturbing video footage of his dying wife laying on the church floor was on Radar Online, an Internet website,” Panish wrote.
“The potential ramifications are worrying given how information is misused on social media. For example, we fear that this shocking footage of Andros’ dying mother could be material used by thugs to emotionally abuse him in the future.
The Hutchins family are concerned the footage (pictured) is being used to bully their nine-year-old son, causing further trauma to him
Hutchins was also filmed being wheeled out of the church on a stretcher while receiving oxygen before being placed in a helicopter and flown away
They also noted that the department was under no obligation to release the footage. However, according to the Los Angeles Times, the department said it released the footage due to the number of recording requests it received.
“Since the investigation began in October, when the incident occurred, we had received many requests for information and it took us a long time to compile the data,” a police official told the Times. “If information is requested in New Mexico that is a public record of what those files are, we have an obligation to release them.”
The department also released over 200 pages of police reports, other videos — including Baldwin’s interrogation — and personal information, including phone numbers and addresses, and social security numbers, which have not been redacted. The footage was released before charges were brought against those involved in the shooting.
Joshua Ritter, a former LA DA bureau prosecutor and criminal defense attorney, told the Los Angeles Times that the amount of information the Santa Fe police have released “is just something you don’t see.”
“We’re not talking about a few hand-picked reports or videos, but it’s almost like they’ve released their entire record, and to me that’s just remarkable,” he said. “They almost prompted public opinion to consider whether or not they think the charges are strong.”
Police also released crime scene photos, as well as personal information such as phone numbers, social security numbers, and addresses. Both the Hutchins family and Rust film officials slammed the decision
Pictures taken by the Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office show the evidence left at the scene after paramedics left
Lisa Torraco, the film’s attorney, also disagreed with the release of the information, stating, “We are very, very disappointed that the sheriff released personal information.”
The harrowing clip of Halyna Hutchins’ final moments – including the paramedics yelling, “Halyna, stay with us!” was released as part of a treasure trove of evidence shared by the Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office on Monday.
Hutchins, who died at the age of 42, was seen unconscious on the floor of a church set as rescue workers worked to save her after she was shot dead on the western’s New Mexico set in October 2021.
She appeared to be unconscious the entire time after being shot through her right armpit, with the bullet that later hit her emerging through her shoulder again.
They also released footage of Baldwin’s interview with authorities
Not much is heard other than encouragement for Hutchins, and the paramedics bark orders at each other.
In another video, Rust’s crew, including Baldwin, can be heard asking how Hutchins is doing.
Baldwin is heard asking, “What’s her story?” regarding Hutchins and saying that things are “a little bit rougher”.
Someone is heard asking if the condition is life-threatening, and the answer is, “Enough to be blown out of the air.”
The investigative files also include rehearsal clips showing Baldwin in costume practicing a quick gun draw.