Alec Baldwin denied responsibility for the fatal shooting of a cinematographer on the set of his Western movie Rust, saying he would have killed himself if he believed it was his fault.
In an emotional television interview, the actor said he did not pull the trigger on the gun he was holding during a rehearsal, and that he did not think he would be criminally charged in the case.
“I feel someone is responsible for what happened, but I know it isn’t me. I might have killed myself if I thought I was responsible, and I don’t say that lightly,” Baldwin told ABC television’s George Stephanopoulos in his first public comments about the October 21 shooting on the set near Santa Fe, New Mexico.
Cinematographer Halyna Hutchins was killed and director Joel Souza was wounded when the gun fired off a live bullet.
The incident, including how live ammunition made its way to the set, is still being investigated by authorities in New Mexico. No criminal charges have been filed.
Baldwin had been told the gun was “safe” by crew members in charge of checking weapons.
Baldwin said he “would never point a gun at anyone and pull a trigger at them.”