The armourer who oversaw guns used in filming of Western movie Rust said producers allowed for an "unsafe" movie set and rejected her requests for training and other measures before actor Alec Baldwin accidentally shot and killed a cinematographer.
Attorneys for 24-year-old Hannah Gutierrez issued the first statement on her behalf late on Thursday, a week after the fatal shooting by Baldwin of Halyna Hutchins (42) on the Rust set outside of Santa Fe, New Mexico.
Director Joel Souza was hit in the shoulder by the shot but was discharged from hospital last week.
Safety was the "number one priority" for Ms Gutierrez, who had been hired as armourer and assistant prop master, according to the statement from attorneys Jason Bowles and Robert Gorence.
Holding both positions “made it extremely difficult to focus on her job as an armourer,” the statement said, adding that Ms Gutierrez fought for training, days to maintain weapons, and proper time to prepare for scenes with gunfire.
Ms Gutierrez “ultimately was overruled by production and her department,” the attorneys said.
“The whole production set became unsafe due to various factors, including lack of safety meetings,” they added. “This was not the fault of Hannah.”
Authorities in Santa Fe are investigating the incident and say they have not ruled out criminal charges. A key question is how live ammunition made its way into the Colt revolver that Baldwin was using after he was told the gun was “cold”, an industry term meaning it was safe to use.
Ms Gutierrez “has no idea where the live rounds came from”, her attorneys said. She and the prop master “gained control over the guns and she never witnessed anyone shoot live rounds with these guns and nor would she permit that”.
Guns on the set were locked up at night and at lunch, “and there’s no way a single one of them was unaccounted for or being shot by crew members”, they added.
“Hannah is devastated and completely beside herself over the events that have transpired,” the statement said.
A spokeswoman for the “Rust” producers had no immediate comment on Friday.
Baldwin has said he is heartbroken and is co-operating with investigators. – Reuters