ABC’s ‘The Rookie’ bans ‘live’ guns on set after Alec Baldwin’s ‘Rust’ shooting

ABC’s “The Rookie” has decided to ban “live” weapons from its set after the fatal shooting that took place on the set of Alec Baldwinis “Rust” on Thursday.

The new policy will take effect immediately, showrunner Alexi Hawley told his staff on Friday, according to reports.

“As of today, it is now policy on The Rookie that all shots on set will be Air Soft guns with CG muzzle flashes added to the post. There will be no more ‘live’ weapons on the show,” it reads in his note via The Hollywood Reporter.

“As always, if you ever feel insecure or witness something that worries you, do not hesitate to report it,” it concludes. “My door is always open.”

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Officer Nolan and Officer Chen in ‘The Rookie’. The ABC police drama on Friday implemented a new policy banning ‘live’ weapons from its set. (ABC / Raymond Liu) ERIC WINTER
(ABC / Raymond Liu)

Reps for ABC and “The Rookie” did not immediately return Fox News’ request for comment.

The new policy was announced just a day after cinematographer Halyna Hutchins was killed by a plug gun used during rehearsals by Baldwin, who is a star and producer of the film. Director Joel Souza was also injured and taken to hospital. Actress Frances Fisher wrote on Twitter that Souza has since been released.

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An assistant director of the New Mexico film set claimed that a gun delivered to Baldwin on Thursday was unloaded, according to a search warrant filed in a Santa Fe court, according to reports.

Showrunner told staff on Friday that any risk is too great after the fatal shooting on the set ‘Rust’.
(ABC / Raymond Liu)

“Cold gun,” assistant director Dave Halls announced at the time, using lingo to a unloaded firearm, before an exercise for the film, The Associated Press reported.

Shortly afterwards, lawsuits say Baldwin pulled the firearm trigger and wounded Hutchins fatally and wounded director Souza.

Halls was unaware that live rounds were inside the firearm, he grabbed and handed to Baldwin, a detective wrote in an application for a search warrant, the AP reports.

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“Investigators are trying to determine what type of projectile was in the firearm,” the sheriff’s office told Fox News in a statement.

The Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office obtained the search on Friday as part of an effort to investigate the shooting.

Alec Baldwin was seen ‘in tears’ after the shooting that killed Halyna Hutchins and wounded Joel Souza.
(Jim Weber / Santa Fe New Mexican)

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Rust Movie Productions, the company behind the film, also conducts its own review of what happened, said officials. The company’s statement came amid reports that some crew members were unhappy with the level of gun safety on the film set. Fox News has not independently confirmed the accuracy of the complaints.

Production was halted at “Rust” after Thursday’s incident. On Friday, Baldwin broke his silence and expressed his condolences to Hutchin’s family.

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“There are no words to convey my shock and grief over the tragic accident that took the life of Halyna Hutchins, a wife, mother and deeply admired colleague,” he said Friday morning on Twitter.

“I am fully cooperating with the police investigation to resolve how this tragedy occurred and I am in touch with her husband and offer my support to him and his family. My heart is broken for her husband, their son and all who knew and loved Halyna, “the actress concluded.