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Prop gun used by Alec Baldwin was loaded with live rounds, crew used it 'for fun'

Hours before the tragedy, the film crew had walked out of the set after firearms were accidentally discharged three times

The prop gun used by Alec Baldwin, that killed cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on a New Mexico movie set, had reportedly been used by crew members offsite for 'fun'. The gun, which misfired while Baldwin held it on the set of the movie "Rust", may have even been loaded with live rounds when it was supposed to be used for target practice. Various sources claimed that the gun was even fired at off-the-clock gatherings.

TMZ reported that a source told them when the police arrived at the scene, they discovered live ammo and blank rounds stored in the same area. However, these claims have not been confirmed by officials. 

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Reportedly, hours before the tragedy, the film crew had walked out of the set after firearms were accidentally discharged three times. This once even happened by Baldwin's stunt double, who had apparently been told that the firearm was not loaded. Firearms were accidentally discharged two other times in a closed cabin. Assistant director Dave Halls reportedly handed over the gun to Baldwin, unaware that it was loaded and instead claiming that it was safe to be used. Seconds later, the prop gun killed Halyna Hutchins.

Experts have claimed that Alec Baldwin ignored the golden rule of gun safety by pointing the prop at someone, and also said the gun should never have been loaded with live ammunition in the first place. "There should have never been live rounds on a movie set, that's number one. Number two is every single person on a movie set has a right to inspect a weapon before it's fired. And number three is, there is no reason to ever put a person in front of a weapon that's firing," Zak Knight, a pyrotechnic and special effects engineer who is a member of Local 44, told DailyMail. 

On Saturday, October 24, Halyna Hutchins' husband and son were seen arriving at the area where the accident took place on the set. Matt Hutchins and his son were seen at a hotel in Santa Fe, near the location where Halyna had been filming a new movie with Alec Baldwin. Matt Hutchins took to Twitter to express his grief after the death of his wife. "Halyna inspired us all with her passion and vision, and her legacy is too meaningful to encapsulate in words. Our loss is enormous, and we ask that the media please respect my family’s privacy as we process our grief. We thank everyone for sharing images and stories of her life," he wrote on the microblogging platform. In another tweet, Hutchins thanked Halyna's friends and mentors at AFI "for establishing a scholarship to honor her memory and support aspiring female cinematographers." He urged people who wish to honor her memory "please direct your giving to this fund."