‘Rust’ assistant director must answer subpoena from New Mexico authorities, judge rules
The assistant director of the film “Rust” must respond to a subpoena issued by the Occupational Health and Safety Bureau of the New Mexico Environment Department, a judge ruled.
Dave Halls handed Alec Baldwin a prop gun that went off, killing one person and wounding another on the movie set, The Associated Press reported.
Safety officials have tried to interview Halls twice since the Oct. 21 shooting that left cinematographer Halyna Hutchins dead and Joel Souza wounded, the AP reported.
Halls declined the interview each time through his attorney who said that his client would not agree to the meeting until the criminal investigation into the incident was finished, a compliance worker explained in an affidavit.
Halls’ interview is needed because he was responsible for set safety, knew who was on set during the shooting and handed the gun to Baldwin, the court record said.
“It’s the bureaus’ understanding that Mr. Halls was inside the church when this fatality and injury, this workplace fatality and injury to the second person, occurred. So the bureau needs to question Mr. Halls on what occurred inside the church,” Mia Napolitano, Assistant General Counsel for the New Mexico Environment Department, said, according to KOB-TV.
Lisa Torracco, Hall’s attorney, told KOB-TV that her client will cooperate with officials.
Baldwin has said he didn’t know a live bullet was in the gun when it was given to him, the AP reported.
