Alec Baldwin ‘missed firearm training’ on set of Rust | Entertainment
Alec Baldwin missed gun practice before filming Rust and was “distracted” during a make-up session, according to prosecutors.
The 64-year-old actor-producer was formally charged with involuntary manslaughter following the tragic death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins while filming the western in October 2021, and court documents say he failed to attend a gun handling session before filming began and didn’t give his full attention to a short briefing session on the set.
According to District Attorney Special Counsel Robert Shilling’s filing, which was made available to People magazine, he wrote that Alec “was not present for the required firearms training prior to the start of filming.”
The documents also pointed out that gunsmith Hannah Gutierrez-Reed – who was also charged with manslaughter but denies any wrongdoing – said in her testimony that the actor had “limited training in firearms and how to check your own firearm for it.” whether it was being discharged or charged,” and while attending a 30-minute training session on set, he appeared “distracted and [was] calling his family on his cell phone during training.”
Halyna was killed and director Joel Souza injured when a prop cannon held by “Boss Baby” fired a live round during rehearsal, and the files criticized Alec for not acting as he “assumed.”[d] the gun was loaded”.
They said: “Baldwin pointed a gun directly at Hutchins and Souza. Whether led by [Gutierrez-Reed’s] Orders or not, Baldwin knew that the first rule of gun safety is never to point a gun at anyone you don’t intend to shoot.
“Also, you always assume a gun is loaded. Had Baldwin performed the necessary security checks with the armourer Reed, this tragedy would not have happened.
“Besides, this tragedy would not have happened if Baldwin hadn’t pointed the gun at Hutchins and Souza.”
They also noted that Alec, as one of the film’s producers, “although acts or omissions permitted the hiring of inexperienced and unqualified Reed” for the “firearms-intensive film” and “failed to meet minimum safety standards, protocols, and requirements on set.”
Assistant director Dave Halls has agreed to a plea bargain on charges of negligent use of a deadly weapon and denied turning the firearm over to the film’s lead actor.
The probable cause statement said he received the gun from Hannah and “provided the firearm to Balwin so that he could rehearse/practice with the gun” — although a “rubber or replica firearm would have been used during rehearsals.” should be”.
Alec has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing and said Dave told him it was a ‘cold’ gun – meaning it was unloaded and safe – when he handed the gun to him.
Hannah wasn’t present when the incident took place, but the actor previously suggested that she has some responsibility as it’s her job to prepare and check the props.
Although the ’30 Rock’ star previously insisted he didn’t pull the trigger when Halyna was shot, the FBI later tested the gun and released a report concluding it would not have fired unless someone pulled the trigger would have.
Halyna’s death was previously ruled an accident, but her family filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Alec and others involved in the production.
The legal dispute was settled last October and an agreement was reached to continue filming Rust with Matthew Hutchins, the cinematographer’s widower, on board as executive producer.
