# Alec Baldwin \[accidentally\] Kills Crew Member with Prop Gun {2021-10-21} **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** breaking-news\ **Created:** [October 22, 2021, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alec-baldwin-accidentally-kills-crew-member-with-prop-gun-2021-10-21/952960 "2021-10-22T02:38:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 14
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2021, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alec-baldwin-accidentally-kills-crew-member-with-prop-gun-2021-10-21/952960/264 "2021-10-22T22:55:44Z")
Wow. I cannot believe you just posted that, **aceplace**. ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2021, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alec-baldwin-accidentally-kills-crew-member-with-prop-gun-2021-10-21/952960/265 "2021-10-22T22:56:58Z")
I have to admit that thought had also crossed my mind, although I didn’t want to be the first person to post the possibility. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2021, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alec-baldwin-accidentally-kills-crew-member-with-prop-gun-2021-10-21/952960/266 "2021-10-22T22:59:02Z")
> [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > Wow. I cannot believe you just posted that, **aceplace**. Crew walks off the set a few hours before the accident? Non union workers replace them. Yes, the police will be looking at the circumstances closely. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2021, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alec-baldwin-accidentally-kills-crew-member-with-prop-gun-2021-10-21/952960/267 "2021-10-22T23:00:30Z")
> [@Cartooniverse](#): > > Please let’s leave this kind of personal stuff out of this thread. You mean stuff like this? [quote=“Cartooniverse, post:216, topic:952960”] At least get that RIGHT. [/quote] ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2021, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alec-baldwin-accidentally-kills-crew-member-with-prop-gun-2021-10-21/952960/268 "2021-10-22T23:00:50Z")
That’s a real stretch. Those were camera people, not prop people. ---
**Author:** ![mbh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a6a055/32.png) [@mbh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mbh)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2021, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alec-baldwin-accidentally-kills-crew-member-with-prop-gun-2021-10-21/952960/269 "2021-10-22T23:02:36Z")
The police will be investigating the prop people, the camera people, the DOP’s husband, and the director’s wife. They have to check out all possibilities. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2021, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alec-baldwin-accidentally-kills-crew-member-with-prop-gun-2021-10-21/952960/270 "2021-10-22T23:09:28Z")
It only takes one idiot that wanted to shut down the set. A harmless gun misfire that tragically goes wrong. I hope that didn’t happen. But it has to be considered. ---
**Author:** ![I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/i_love_me_vol.i/32/521_2.png) [@I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/I_Love_Me_Vol.I)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2021, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alec-baldwin-accidentally-kills-crew-member-with-prop-gun-2021-10-21/952960/271 "2021-10-22T23:09:45Z")
> [@Cervaise](#): > > Let’s get some facts on the table before everybody runs ahead of the story and latches onto a misinterpreted version of reality. Very good idea. > [@](#): > > Objectively, the real story here is that **the negligence of the armorer caused the death of a promising young female cinematographer** (a rarity in Hollywood!) who was highly regarded and coming up fast on a major career. [Bolding mine] If I may, a bit of advice. Get some facts on the table before you run ahead of the story and latch onto a misinterpreted version of reality. > [@madsircool](#): > > Since none of us knows all the facts we can only speculate. Yes, we _can_ speculate but should we? > [@madsircool](#): > > This is what we all know. “We all” don’t know shit about this. This is the van lifers homicide thread all over again. ---
**Author:** ![flurb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/51bf81/32.png) [@flurb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flurb)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2021, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alec-baldwin-accidentally-kills-crew-member-with-prop-gun-2021-10-21/952960/272 "2021-10-22T23:10:47Z")
I doubt it. It’s the Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Department conducting the investigation, not the FBI. Their resources are limited. And with a perfectly straightforward explanation that this was an accident, absent evidence to the contrary they’re not going to go chasing conspiracy theories. ---
**Author:** ![Inigo\_Montoya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inigo_montoya/32/124_2.png) [@Inigo\_Montoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inigo_Montoya)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2021, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alec-baldwin-accidentally-kills-crew-member-with-prop-gun-2021-10-21/952960/273 "2021-10-22T23:12:19Z")
> [@mbh](#): > > The police will be investigating the prop people, the camera people, the DOP’s husband, and the director’s wife. They have to check out all possibilities. Ah! But will they be investigating the DP’s husband? That’s what I wanna know. ---
**Author:** ![Love\_Rhombus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/love_rhombus/32/10694_2.png) [@Love\_Rhombus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Love_Rhombus)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2021, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alec-baldwin-accidentally-kills-crew-member-with-prop-gun-2021-10-21/952960/274 "2021-10-22T23:38:53Z")
> [@Inigo\_Montoya](#): > > Ah! But will they be investigating the DP’s husband? That’s what I wanna know. Why? That sounds a little salacious. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2021, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alec-baldwin-accidentally-kills-crew-member-with-prop-gun-2021-10-21/952960/275 "2021-10-22T23:55:46Z")
This just came up on my phone, from Chicago TV station WGN, quoting an AP story: > [@](#): > > Alec Baldwin was handed a loaded weapon by an assistant director who indicated it was safe to use in the moments before the actor fatally shot a cinematographer, court records released Friday show. > > The assistant director did not know the prop gun was loaded with live rounds, according to a search warrant filed in a Santa Fe court. > **[Warrant: Assistant director unknowingly handed Alec Baldwin loaded gun](https://wgntv.com/news/assistant-director-unknowingly-handed-alec-baldwin-loaded-gun/)** > > Alec Baldwin was handed a loaded weapon by an assistant director who indicated it was safe to use in the moments before the actor fatally shot a cinematographer, court records released Friday show. ---
**Author:** ![Cartooniverse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cartooniverse/32/3084_2.png) [@Cartooniverse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cartooniverse)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2021, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alec-baldwin-accidentally-kills-crew-member-with-prop-gun-2021-10-21/952960/276 "2021-10-23T00:01:12Z")
> [@Acsenray](#): > > > [@Cartooniverse](#): > > > > Please let’s leave this kind of personal stuff out of this thread. > > You mean stuff like this? > > [quote=“Cartooniverse, post:216, topic:952960”] At least get that RIGHT. [/quote] Yep. " Fighting Ignorance Since At Least 1973 ". I provided accurate information. You’re welcome. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2021, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alec-baldwin-accidentally-kills-crew-member-with-prop-gun-2021-10-21/952960/277 "2021-10-23T00:23:07Z")
OK @Acsenray & @Cartooniverse, enough of this. Drop it or take it to the Pit. ---
**Author:** ![peccavi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peccavi/32/388_2.png) [@peccavi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/peccavi)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2021, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alec-baldwin-accidentally-kills-crew-member-with-prop-gun-2021-10-21/952960/278 "2021-10-23T00:32:14Z")
> [@Love\_Rhombus](#): > > > [@Inigo\_Montoya](#): > > > > Ah! But will they be investigating the DP’s husband? That’s what I wanna know. > > Why? That sounds a little salacious. Lt. Provenza: “It’s always the spouse” ---
**Author:** ![susan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/susan/32/17537_2.png) [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2021, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alec-baldwin-accidentally-kills-crew-member-with-prop-gun-2021-10-21/952960/279 "2021-10-23T00:49:08Z")
NYT (paywalled): [https://www.nytimes.com/live/2021/10/22/us/alec-baldwin-shooting-movie-set](https://www.nytimes.com/live/2021/10/22/us/alec-baldwin-shooting-movie-set) > The assistant director of the western film “Rust” grabbed a prop pistol from a gray cart and handed it to the movie’s star, Alec Baldwin, shouting “cold gun!” — which was supposed to indicate that it did not contain any live rounds, and was safe to handle around the crew huddled by the camera. > > [But the weapon fired when Mr. Baldwin pulled the trigger a few minutes later](https://www.nytimes.com/2021/10/21/us/alec-baldwin-shooting-rust-movie.html), discharging a live projectile that hit the director, Joel Souza, in the shoulder and struck the director of photography, Halyna Hutchins, in the chest, killing her. > > … > > A state magistrate judge granted the request, which includes an examination of the gun for biological evidence as well as a review of cameras, film, memory cards or other video recorders that may provide information in the case. … > > The weapon was “set up” on the tray by the movie’s weapons specialist, or armorer, along with a Western-style gun belt used in the scene. Detective Cano did not say what the armorer told investigators … ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2021, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alec-baldwin-accidentally-kills-crew-member-with-prop-gun-2021-10-21/952960/280 "2021-10-23T00:56:19Z")
Is this an accepted procedure on set, someone other than the armorer issuing the firearm and declaring it “cold”? ---
**Author:** ![erysichthon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d07c76/32.png) [@erysichthon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/erysichthon)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2021, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alec-baldwin-accidentally-kills-crew-member-with-prop-gun-2021-10-21/952960/281 "2021-10-23T01:27:09Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > I remember an episode of an HBO drama in which two actors were performing Macbeth and the prop knife was switched for a real one. The “prop gets switched and somebody dies” plot device is evidently so common that there’s a TV Tropes entry for it. (I am not suggesting that this is what happened with Baldwin.) > **[Not-So-Fake Prop Weapon - TV Tropes](https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/NotSoFakePropWeapon)** > > A Murder Mystery trope. The victim and the attacker are both actors, rehearsing or acting out a scene with a Prop weapon. Unbeknownst to either, a third party has switched out the prop weapon for a real weapon, and the attacker kills the victim … ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2021, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alec-baldwin-accidentally-kills-crew-member-with-prop-gun-2021-10-21/952960/282 "2021-10-23T02:04:07Z")
As a kid of union parents, my views on unions are that they are utterly crucial, yet as soon as I read all the speculations I had to include the possibility that a live bullet had been substituted as deliberate sabotage and that a union payback was a motivation. Does anyone think that this is more scurrilous than “Alec Baldwin is a murderer”? It has to be thought, and has to be investigated, and hopefully fully disproved. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2021, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alec-baldwin-accidentally-kills-crew-member-with-prop-gun-2021-10-21/952960/283 "2021-10-23T02:38:03Z")
there might be a chain-of-custody issue. [AP NEWS](https://apnews.com/article/entertainment-arts-and-entertainment-movies-santa-fe-alec-baldwin-25d83890a289bb9ae358f406cd3cbee9) The gun was one of three that the film’s armorer, Hannah Gutierrez, had set on a cart outside the wooden structure where a scene was being acted, according to the records. Assistant director Dave Halls grabbed the gun from the cart and brought it inside to Baldwin, unaware that it was loaded with live rounds, a detective wrote in the search warrant application. The prop gun was outside and then brought inside. Does that mean it was unguarded and subject to tampering? And why isn’t the armorer handling the prop? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alec-baldwin-accidentally-kills-crew-member-with-prop-gun-2021-10-21/952960.md?page=13) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alec-baldwin-accidentally-kills-crew-member-with-prop-gun-2021-10-21/952960.md?page=15)