Fresh footage from Santa Fe police officer Nicholas Lefleur's bodycam shows Alec Baldwin immediately following the tragic "Rust" set shooting.
As reported by Irish Star, the recently released bodycam video offers a new perspective on the aftermath of the tragic shooting that took the life of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on the set of the film "Rust." In this footage, Alec Baldwin can be seen just moments after the fatal incident, shedding light on his initial reactions and the immediate interventions by law enforcement.
The footage is notably from the bodycam worn by Santa Fe police officer Nicholas Lefleur. As the first witness called by the prosecution during Wednesday's court session, Officer Lefleur provided a detailed account of his arrival at the scene, including his interactions with Baldwin and other emergency responders.
In his testimony, Lefleur narrated approaching Baldwin outside the church where the incident transpired. His primary duty was to manage and secure Baldwin away from other witnesses to safeguard the authenticity of their narratives.
"Essentially, he's detained, not free to leave, so I'm there with him," Lefleur noted in his testimony. He indicated telling Baldwin to cease talking and to stay separate from others to prevent any influence on their accounts.
Lefleur's account in court revealed some critical lapses in managing the scene. He acknowledged not intervening in conversations between the witnesses and Baldwin during those early chaotic moments. This admission was crucial as it played into the defense's strategy to suggest possible mishandling of the situation right after the shooting.
Additionally, Lefleur admitted to telling Baldwin, "You need to sit there and not talk to anybody," aiming to keep gathered testimonies uncontaminated. He maintained that keeping everyone present during the shooting in one identifiable area was his tactical goal.
Despite these measures, Lefleur conceded making mistakes at the scene, an acknowledgment seized upon by Baldwin's legal team during the proceedings.
Adding a layer of complexity to the case, Baldwin has repeatedly stated he did not pull the trigger, a point he reiterated during his interactions with Lefleur. "I was holding the gun, yeah," Baldwin confessed but firmly denied causing the discharge.
However, forensic experts Lucien and Michael Haag refuted this claim in their findings. Their analysis concluded that the weapon could not fire without the trigger being activated.
The forensic report stated, "This fatal incident was the consequence of the hammer being manually retracted to its fully rearward and cocked position followed, at some point, by the pull or rearward depression of the trigger." This report directly challenges Baldwin's repeated assertions of not pulling the trigger.
The investigation into the shooting remains highly debated. Officer Lefleur's testimony and bodycam footage offer crucial insights but also raise questions about procedural adherence. Baldwin's claim of merely holding the firearm contrasts with forensic findings that indicate the trigger had to be pulled or depressed for the gun to discharge, forming the core of the ongoing legal and forensic examinations.
To sum it up, the newly released bodycam footage, coupled with Officer Nicholas Lefleur's detailed testimony, offers a comprehensive look at the immediate aftermath of the "Rust" set shooting, highlighting Baldwin's initial response and the actions of the first responders. Despite Baldwin’s denial of pulling the trigger, forensic reports suggest otherwise, setting the stage for a contentious legal battle.
