Alec Baldwin’s “reckless” behavior led to deadly shootings on Rust, DA claims
Alec Baldwin’s “reckless deviation from known standards, practices and protocols” directly caused the fatal shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins, according to Santa Fe prosecutors.
In a scathing report, prosecutors claimed the actor displayed “willful disregard” for the safety of others on the set of the Rust film in New Mexico in the days leading up to the incident.
Baldwin did not attend “mandatory” firearms training, but went through a 30-minute session on set during which he was distracted by a phone call to his family, prosecutors said.
It comes as both Baldwin and the film’s gunsmith, Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, have been officially charged with two counts of involuntary manslaughter arising from the October 2021 incident.
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Alec Baldwin and the film’s gunsmith are facing two involuntary manslaughter charges stemming from the incident in Santa Fe, New Mexico (Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office/PA)
The charges were formally filed Tuesday by the Santa Fe County Attorney’s Office, along with a statement of probable cause.
The statement said there were “no fewer than a dozen reckless acts or omissions” on set on the day of filming in the period leading up to the incident.
“The evidence and testimony documented in this affidavit corroborates many instances of extremely reckless acts or reckless omissions by Baldwin over a 10-day period,” the statement said.
“The evidence clearly shows that none of Baldwin’s incidents or issues in his position as an actor or producer were addressed to mitigate future instances of recklessness, correct reckless behavior, or correct training deficiencies.
“Baldwin’s deviation from known standards, practices and protocols directly caused the fatal death of Hutchins.”
Regarding the moments before the shooting itself, the statement added that Baldwin had pointed the gun at Ms Hutchins, which was another deviation from protocol.
The evidence and testimony documented in this affidavit corroborates many instances of extremely reckless actions or reckless omissions by Baldwin within 10 days.Santa Fe District Attorney
“Whether directed or not by[Hutchins’]orders, Baldwin knew that the first rule of gun safety is never to point a gun at anyone you do not intend to shoot,” it said.
“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.”
The prosecutor also said that Gutierrez-Reed was “inexperienced and unqualified” for the senior armourer’s practice and “did not hold any certification or certifiable training.”
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The report noted that prior to working on the film, she had only been a gunsmith on one production.
“As the producer of a gun-intensive film, evidence shows that Baldwin, by acts or omissions, permitted the hiring of inexperienced and unqualified Reed for that production, failed to mitigate or take other precautions to protect against Reed’s inexperience, or failed to require it Minimum security standards, protocols and requirements on set,” the statement said.
https://www.independent.ie/entertainment/movies/alec-baldwins-reckless-behaviour-resulted-in-fatal-rust-shooting-claims-da-42322250.html Alec Baldwin’s “reckless” behavior led to deadly shootings on Rust, DA claims
