Assistant Director Who Handed Alec Baldwin The Gun That Killed Halyna Hutchins Has Just Been Subpoenaed

The controversy surrounding the tragic death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins has intensified again. The latest comes after Alec Baldwin's December 2 interview with ABC News, where he made a shocking claim. "The trigger wasn't pulled. I didn't pull the trigger," Baldwin said in the interview, seemingly minimizing his role in the incident that left Hutchins' husband Matthew Hutchins without a wife and their son Andros without a mother. "I cock the gun. I go, 'Can you see that? Can you see that? Can you see that?' And then I let go of the hammer of the gun, and the gun goes off." 

Baldwin's version of events has been backed by the film's assistant director, the same person who reportedly handed him the gun on that fateful day. So it's unclear at this juncture why the director in question has refused to speak with state workplace safety regulators in New Mexico, according to CBS News. But what is clear? A judge has delivered a crucial ruling in getting the AD to talk.

"Rust" assistant director David Halls has been subpoenaed by a district judge after a request was made by the Occupational Health and Safety Bureau as the department had tried to interview him twice, according to NBC News. Halls declined both times, as he didn't want any involvement until the criminal investigation into Halyna Hutchins' death was completed. For his part, Halls said that he did not know that the gun he handed Baldwin had been loaded. Halls' interview is important, as he had a role in overseeing safety on set.

It isn't the first time that complaints were made against Halls. According to CNN, prop maker and pyrotechnician Maggie Goll claimed that no effort was made in ensuring the safety of all crew and cast members on the 2019 Hulu series "In the Dark," which Halls worked on as well. In a statement, Goll said, "The only reason the crew was made aware of a weapon's presence was because the assistant prop master demanded Dave acknowledge and announce the situation each day." She added, "The Prop Master frequently admonished Dave for dismissing the talent without returning props, weapon included, or failing to make safety announcements."

It sounds like Halls has some explaining to do and some questions to answer — including whether or not that trigger was indeed pulled.