Alec Baldwin Talks About 'Rust' Shooting: 'I Didn't Pull The Trigger'

NEW YORK (AP) Alec Baldwin told ABCs George Stephanopoulos in an interview airing Thursday that he did not pull the trigger on a prop gun he was holding on a New Mexico film set when it went off, killing a cinematographer.

I didnt pull the trigger, Baldwin said. I would never point a gun at anyone and pull the trigger at them. Never.

It is Baldwins first sitdown interview since the Oct. 21 shooting on the set of the western film Rust. Authorities have said Baldwin was told the gun was safe to handle but continue to investigate how a live round ended up in the weapon .

ABC released a clip Wednesday that shows Baldwin breaking down in tears while describing Halyna Hutchins, the cinematographer who was killed on the set. Director Joel Souza was also wounded.

Asked by @GStephanopoulos how a real bullet got on the \"Rust\" set, Alec Baldwin says: I have no idea. Someone put a live bullet in a gun. A bullet that wasnt even supposed to be on the property.

Watch TOMORROW 8pm ET on ABC and stream later on @hulu. https://t.co/fJQly1za1T pic.twitter.com/OnpDuYERiC

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Asked by @GStephanopoulos how a real bullet got on the "Rust" set, Alec Baldwin says: I have no idea. Someone put a live bullet in a gun. A bullet that wasnt even supposed to be on the property.

Watch TOMORROW 8pm ET on ABC and stream later on @hulu . https://t.co/fJQly1za1T pic.twitter.com/OnpDuYERiC
ABC News (@ABC) December 1, 2021

He said in response to a question about how a live round ended up on the set: I have no idea. Someone put a live bullet in a gun, a bullet that wasnt even supposed to be on the property.

The interview will air as part of an hourlong special on ABC at 8 p.m. Eastern time on Thursday and stream on Hulu later that evening.

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Investigators have described some complacency in how weapons were handled on the Rust set. They have said it is too soon to determine whether charges will be filed, amid independent civil lawsuits concerning liability in the fatal shooting.

ABC said a two-hour special 20/20 next week will examine the investigation into the shooting in more depth.