Detective testifies that doctors took out projectile from "Rust" director's shoulder

Joseph Lujan, detective at Santa Fe Sheriff’s Department, speaks on the stand in court on Wednesday. 

Pool

Doctors removed a projectile from Joel Souza’s shoulder when he arrived at the hospital, according to a detective who was there with him. Souza was a director of “Rust” who was injured in the shooting on set in 2021.

Joseph Lujan, a detective at Santa Fe Sheriff’s Department, testified for the prosecution that he was dispatched to meet Souza at the hospital. He said he was there to collect initial details about what happened.

When he was done questioning Souza, Lujan described how doctors removed “a projectile” from his shoulder. Lujan said he kept the object in a plastic container until he gave it to investigators at the sheriff’s office.