Rust cinematographer Halyna Hutchins’ husband is outraged over the release of bodycam footage showing his wife dying on set after being shot by Alec Baldwin.
Matthew Hutchins’ lawyer Brian Panish sent Santa Fe Sheriff Adan Mendoza a scathing email claiming the police department double-crossed the grieving widower.
Hutchins’ says he’s fearful bullies could use the widely-shared footage of Hutchins receiving emergency treatment to taunt the couple’s nine year-old son, after she was accidentally killed by Hollywood star Baldwin while practicing a scene.
Hutchins’ claimed the sheriff said he could review all the footage before the department released it to the public, including the bodycam footage of his wife being attended to by emergency services as she laid dying on the Rust set in October 2021.
He is now claiming the police department violated the family’s rights to privacy and fairness in New Mexico, which states the family would be allowed to review the footage and request redactions prior to release.
‘Your office trampled on the constitutional rights of Hutchins,’ Panish wrote in an email, viewed by TMZ and The Los Angeles Times.
‘We demand that your office respect Matthew, Halyna, and Andros Hutchins’ constitutional rights of dignity, privacy, respect and fairness going forward. We also demand that your office take down the video footage of Halyna Hutchins dying on the church floor.
‘While the damage of publishing that video is irreparable, taking down the video will end your office’s complicity in causing future harm.
Dramatic police bodycam video shows medics battling to save Halyna Hutchins life after the Rust movie set shooting
Halyna Hutchins’ husband Matthew (pictured together with their son Andros) slammed the Santa Fe Sheriff Adan Mendoza for releasing the footage of his wife dying on the Rust set after Alec Baldwin shot her. Huthins’ claimed the sheriff said he could review all the footage before the department released it to the public, including the bodycam footage. Under the law, he would be able to have requested redactions to the information released
Mendoza said the footage was released due to the high volume of records requests the department received
The family also noted the potential trauma the footage could cause Andros, nine, if bullies use it against him, causing him further harm. It also claimed that Hutchins saw the footage first the first time on Radar Online.
‘The first time Mr. Hutchins saw the disturbing and unsettling video footage of his dying wife lying on the church floor was on Radar Online, an internet website,’ Panish wrote.
‘The potential consequences are disturbing given how information is misused on social media. We fear, for example, that this shocking footage of Andros’ mother dying may be material used by bullies to emotionally abuse him in the future.
The Hutchins family is worried the footage (pictured) will be used to bully her son, nine, and cause him further trauma
Hutchins was also filmed being wheeled out of the church on a gurney while being given oxygen, before being put into a helicopter and airlifted away
They also cited that the department was not required to release the footage. However, the department said it released the footage due to the number of records requests it received, according to the Los Angeles Times.
‘We had received many requests for the information since the beginning of the investigation back in October when the incident occurred and it took us a lot of time to compile the data,’ a police representative told the Times. ‘When information is requested in New Mexico that is a public record, which these files are, we’re obligated to release them.’
The department also released over 200 pages of police reports, other videos – including Baldwin’s interrogation – and personal information, including phone number and addresses and social security numbers that were not redacted. The material was released before charges have been brought against anyone involved in the shooting.
Former prosecutor for the LA DA’s office and criminal defense attorney Joshua Ritter told the Los Angeles Times that the amount of information Santa Fe police released was ‘just something that you don’t see.’
‘We’re not talking about a few hand-picked reports or videos, but it’s almost like they’ve released their entire file and it’s just remarkable to me,’ he said. ‘They’ve almost invited public opinion to weigh in on whether or not they think criminal charges are strong or not.’
Crime scene photos were also released by police, as well as personal information, such as phone numbers, social security numbers, and addresses. Both the Hutchins family and the Rust movie representatives slammed the decision
Pictures taken by the Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office show the evidence left on the scene after paramedics departed
Lisa Torraco, the attorney representing the movie, also disagreed with the release of the information, stating: ‘We are very very disappointed the sheriff released personal information.’
The distressing clip of Halyna Hutchins’ final moments – including paramedics crying ‘Halyna, stay with us!’ was released as part of a trove of evidence shared by Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office Monday.
Hutchins, who died aged 42, could be seen unconscious of the floor of a church set as emergency responders worked to save her after she was shot on the New Mexico set of the western in October 2021.
She appeared to be unconscious throughout, having been shot through her right armpit, with the bullet that struck her later emerging again through the top of her shoulder.
They also released footage of Baldwin’s interview with authorities
Not much can be heard other than encouragement for Hutchins and the paramedics barking instructions at one another.
In another video, the crew from Rust, including Baldwin, can be heard asking how Hutchins is doing.
Baldwin can be heard asking ‘what’s her story?’ in reference to Hutchins and being told things are ‘a little bit rougher.’
Someone can be heard asking if the condition is life-threatening and the response is: ‘enough to get air-lifted.’
The investigation files also include rehearsal clips that show Baldwin in costume as he practices a quick-draw maneuver with a gun.