Alec Baldwin was officially accused of ‘reckless act’ leading to shooting on the set of ‘Rust’ – Quoc Khanh

Prosecutors have formally charged actor Alec Baldwin and a set attendant with manslaughter in connection with the 2021 death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on set. rust.

The Santa Fe County District Attorney’s Office released a probable cause statement on Tuesday outlining the charges – originally announced January 19 – against Baldwin, 64, and the tailor. Hannah Gutierrez-Reed armor.

In the document, prosecutors charged Baldwin with “multiple instances of extreme recklessness” during the film’s production.

They wrote that Baldwin “wasn’t present” for mandatory gun training before the movie began. Instead, he was given on-site instruction but prosecutors allege he was “distracted and talking on cell phones with his family”. The training session was scheduled for an hour but lasted only 30 minutes because Baldwin was “distracted” on the phone.

Prosecutors wrote that Baldwin’s lack of firearm training “did not conform to industry standards.” They argued that if Baldwin had performed the required safety checks before aiming the gun at the set, Hutchins would not have been killed.

Baldwin has yet to comment on the formal charges but has previously said through his attorney that he has “no reason to believe that there is a live bullet in the gun – or anywhere on the set”. .”

Baldwin’s attorney said: “He relied on the experts he worked with who assured him the gun had no live ammunition. “We will fight these charges, and we will win.”

Gutierrez-Reed has argued that she verified the gun fired by Baldwin was loaded with fake ammunition before she turned it over to him. Rust’its assistant director, Dave Halls, who later gave it to Baldwin. Gutierrez-Reed’s attorneys also vowed to fight the charges, blaming Halls for not allowing her to use a plastic gun during the deadly rehearsal scene.

The prosecutor’s statement described some “reckless acts or omissions” on set rust. This included omitting the use of prop guns during unscheduled rehearsals, willfully ignoring safety complaints on set, and a lack of safety checks carried out by armored personnel. The document also accused Gutierrez-Reed of leaving rust set against protocol.

The charges against Baldwin and Gutierrez-Reed can lead to a sentence of up to 18 months in prison and a $5,000 ($6,658) fine.

Halls, the assistant director, was also charged with negligent use of a deadly weapon to deliver the loaded gun to Baldwin. He is expected to plead guilty.

In October 2021, Hutchins was shot dead by Baldwin with a shot containing a “real bullet”. rust Writer and director Joel Souza was also injured in the incident.

The shooting occurred while Baldwin was rehearsing with what he believed to be a safe gun, provided to him by Gutierrez-Reed, who was in charge of the guns on set. Baldwin has repeatedly denied responsibility for Hutchins’ death and said live rounds were never allowed on set. He claimed that he did not know the gun was loaded when he fired.

In April, footage of Alec Baldwin just minutes after the deadly shooting was released by police.

In the rehearsal footage without sound, Baldwin is seen quickly drawing and aiming his F.lli Pietta 45 Long Colt Revolver, the same gun being shot by mistake. He is seen with his finger resting on the trigger.

Baldwin, in a separate police video, confirmed to officers, “I’m the one with the gun.”

In late August, Hutchins’ death was determined by New Mexico’s Office of Medical Investigations as an accident after completing an autopsy and reviewing law enforcement reports.

In the fall, Baldwin reached an agreement with the Hutchins estate. As part of the deal, Matthew Hutchins became executive producer of rust, is set to start rolling back this month. It’s unclear how the new fees will affect the film’s continuation plans.

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