The allegations against Alex Baldwin are fierce: it was already known that the actor would have to answer in court for involuntary manslaughter; on Tuesday, the prosecutor in the US state of New Mexico officially filed a lawsuit. The lawsuit, obtained by SZ, alleges that Baldwin and armorer Hannah Gutierrez Reed were directly responsible for the death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins while filming Rust. New Mexico law requires a five-year prison sentence for a conviction of involuntary manslaughter.
Hutchins was fatally injured while filming at a Santa Fe movie ranch in October 2021. Baldwin, both the film’s lead actor and producer, was holding a gun in rehearsal for a scene when a shot went off. Director Joel Souza was hit in the shoulder by the projectile and injured in the incident. Investigations revealed that there was a real bullet lodged in the gun. Matthew Hutchins, the victim’s husband, had sued Baldwin (they settled out of court), saying, “The idea that the person who held the gun shouldn’t be responsible strikes me as absurd.”
That is also the reading of the public prosecutor’s office. “There is evidence that there were a dozen reckless or reckless acts on the day of the accident alone, in the time before lunch and at the time of the shooting,” the prosecutor said in a statement. “Baldwin acted in willful disregard for safety others, and he acted in a way that endangered others.”
Specifically: he did not attend the prescribed weapons training before the start of the shooting; during safety training at the ranch during filming, he got distracted by his phone. He did not sufficiently complete the usual safety checks with the weapons master and disregarded one of the most important rules: Never aim at people, even if you think the gun is not loaded.
Prosecutors accuse Baldwin of contradicting statements
The public prosecutor also accuses Baldwin of having made contradictory statements about what happened. He initially told investigators he fired the gun; he later said in interviews that he did not pull the trigger. There are photos and videos showing Baldwin’s finger on the trigger, a forensic investigation by the federal agency FBI had shown that without Baldwin’s help, a shot could not possibly have been fired. The investigation, according to prosecutors, showed that Baldwin’s finger was on the trigger – and that he pulled the trigger.
Prosecutors also dispute Baldwin’s testimony that he was given the gun by assistant director David Halls and who assured him by using the term “cold gun” that there was no live ammunition inside. Halls says that Baldwin was given the gun by Gutierrez and assured him: “Cold Gun”. Again, this would be a gross violation of safety standards, which required Gutierrez Reed to demonstrate to both Baldwin and Halls that the gun was exclusively blank; Baldwin and Halls should have insisted on being shown that way. Halls has previously pleaded guilty to negligent handling of a gun. He could get away with a suspended sentence if the judge approves
When asked by SZ, Baldwin’s law firm said he currently did not want to comment on the allegations. In January, his attorney Luke Nikas said his client could not have known there might be live ammunition on set or in the gun; he relied on the employees: “We will defend ourselves against the allegations and refute them.” A statement from Gutierrez Reed’s lawyers said her client had repeatedly asked for additional training sessions and also asked not to use a real weapon during rehearsals: “However, she was ignored. She would have prevented this tragedy if she had inspected the weapon . We fully expect them to acquit the jury.”
There will now be a hearing; usually within two months. After that, a judge will decide whether there will be a court hearing.