Alec Baldwin officially accused of ‘negligence’ leading to shooting on ‘Rust’ set – National | globalnews.ca

Prosecutors have officially charged the actor Alec Baldwin and a film set armourer with involuntary manslaughter in connection with the 2021 death of the cinematographer Halina Hutchins on the set of War,

The Santa Fe District Attorney’s Office released a probable cause statement Tuesday outlining the charges – Originally announced on January 19 — against Baldwin, 64, and armourer Hannah Gutierrez-Reid.

In the document, prosecutors accused Baldwin of “numerous instances of grossly negligent acts” during the film’s production.

He wrote that Baldwin “did not attend” for mandatory firearms training before filming began. He was instead provided with on-set guidance, but prosecutors allege he was “distracted and talking to his family on his cell phone.” The training session was scheduled for an hour, but was only 30 minutes long due to Baldwin being “distracted” on the phone.

Prosecutors wrote that Baldwin’s lack of firearms training “is not consistent with industry standards.” He argued that if Baldwin had performed the mandatory security check before aiming the gun at the set, Hutchins’ death would not have occurred.

Baldwin has yet to comment on the official allegations, but previously said through his attorney that he had “no reason to believe that there was a live bullet in the gun — or anywhere on the set of the film.”

Baldwin’s attorney said, “He trusted the professionals he worked with, who assured him that the gun did not contain live rounds.” “We will fight these allegations, and we will win.”

Gutierrez-Reid has argued that he verified that the gun fired by Baldwin was loaded with dummy rounds before she passes it War’Dave Hall, who passed it on to Baldwin. Gutierrez-Reid’s attorneys have also vowed to fight the charges, accusing Hall of not allowing her to use a plastic gun during the fatal rehearsal scene.

The prosecutor’s statement described several “acts or omissions of negligence” on the set. War, This included using a prop gun during unscheduled rehearsals, willful ignorance of on-set security complaints, and lack of security checks performed by the armourer. The document also alleges that Gutierrez-Reid left War Set against protocol.

The charges against Baldwin and Gutierrez-Reid carry a possible sentence of up to 18 months in prison and a fine of up to US$5,000 ($6,658).

Hall, the assistant director, has also been charged with negligent use of a deadly weapon for handing the loaded gun to Baldwin. He is expected to plead guilty.

In October 2021, Hutchins was shot dead shot by Baldwin which contained a “live round”. War Writer and director Joel Souza was also injured in the incident.

The shooting occurred while Baldwin rehearsed having a gun safe, which was provided to him by Gutierrez-Reid, who was responsible for the guns on set. Baldwin has consistently denied responsibility for Hutchins’ death and has said that live rounds should never have been allowed on the set. He claims that he was not aware that the gun was loaded when he fired.

in April, Footage of Alec Baldwin minutes after the fatal shooting was released by the police.

In the soundless rehearsal footage, Baldwin is seen rapidly preparing and aiming a F.lli Pietta 45 Long Colt revolver, the same gun that later misfired. He is seen keeping his finger on the trigger.

Baldwin, in a separate police videosConfirmed to officers, “I was the one holding the gun.”

Later in August, Hutchins’ death was determined by the New Mexico Medical Investigator’s Office to be Accident Following completion of an autopsy and review of law enforcement reports.

in the fall, baldwin reached a settlement with the estate of Hutchins. As part of the agreement, Matthew Hutchins became its executive producer. War, whose shooting was to resume this month. It is unclear how the new charges will affect plans for the resumption of filming.

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