In a trial for a fatal shooting on the set of the ill-fated Western film Rust, film director Joel Souza testified on Friday about the chaotic scenes that unfolded before and after the incident. The trial, taking place at state District Court in Santa Fe, involves a film crew member charged in connection with the shooting.

Souza initially struggled to comprehend the situation when he was informed by hospital personnel that he had suffered a gunshot wound. Believing it to be impossible on a movie set, he insisted that it couldn't be a real bullet. However, his disbelief was shattered when he saw an X-ray revealing a "large" bullet lodged in his back.

The shooting occurred on October 21, 2021, during a walk-through for a scene at Bonanza Creek Ranch south of Santa Fe. Souza, who had been looking over the cinematographer Halyna Hutchins' shoulder at a camera monitor, heard and felt an incredibly loud bang. He described the sensation as being struck by a baseball bat.

The bullet passed through Hutchins, tragically killing her, and then lodged in Souza's shoulder. The trial has focused on the charges of involuntary manslaughter against actor and producer Alec Baldwin and the film's armorer, Hannah Gutierrez-Reed. Prosecutors claim that Gutierrez-Reed brought live rounds onto the set and loaded a firearm that was discharged by Baldwin, resulting in Hutchins' death.

Defense attorneys for Gutierrez-Reed argue that she was set up to fail by being hired for two positions and that hurried production contributed to the tragedy. Gutierrez-Reed also faces a charge of tampering with evidence for allegedly handing a baggie of cocaine to another crew member after being interviewed by the police.

Throughout the trial, witnesses have testified about Gutierrez-Reed's performance as an armorer, noting her lack of organization and cavalier attitude towards weapon handling. This includes testimony from Rust script supervisor Mamie Mitchell, who described Gutierrez-Reed's prop cart as resembling a disorganized kitchen drawer.

As Souza took the stand, he spoke about his limited interaction with Gutierrez-Reed before he was taken to the hospital. He recalled her looking distraught and apologizing to him. The jury also heard conflicting testimony regarding who handed Baldwin the revolver just before the scene, with Gutierrez-Reed and Baldwin giving contradictory statements.

The trial is ongoing, with prop master Sarah Zachry testifying about removing rounds from the revolvers used by actors following the shooting. She admitted to throwing them away, not thinking they were related to the incident. Zachry has a cooperation agreement with the state, protecting her from prosecution in exchange for her truthful testimony against Gutierrez-Reed and Baldwin.

The trial, initially scheduled to conclude on March 6, is now expected to run a day or two longer, according to District Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer. The case has shed light on the tragic events that unfolded on the set of Rust, raising important questions about safety measures and accountability in the film industry.