Rust Part 1: The Tragic Death of Halyna Hutchins

On October 21, 2021, cinematographer Halyna Hutchins was killed on the set of the Western film Rust when a gun held by Alec Baldwin discharged during a rehearsal. The bullet struck Halyna in the chest, and she died from her injuries. She was 42 years old. How did a live round end up in a prop gun? Who was responsible? In Part 1, we explore the events leading up to Halyna's death, the chaotic production, the unqualified armorer, and the critical safety failures that turned a routine rehearsal into a fatal disaster.