For over a year, actor Alec Baldwin has defended himself against allegations he was responsible for shooting the cinematographer dead on the set of ‘Rust’, which was filming a low-budget western in Santa’s suburbs. I’ve been trying. iron, NM
He told detectives he was sure the gun he was rehearsing for that day did not contain live ammunition, and sat down for an extensive television interview. sought compensation from financial liability then and after sued the film crewthey claimed to be responsible for handing him the loaded gun.
But on Thursday, prosecutors said they would indict two counts of manslaughter in the murder of the cinematographer. Halina Hutchins42, they said they believed they had a duty to ensure that revolvers were safe to handle.
Andrea Reeve, a special counsel appointed by the Santa Fe County District Attorney to help handle the case, said in an interview that “everyone is under the law, including leading actors like Alec Baldwin.” We are trying to make sure it is clear that we are equal.” “We also want to address the safety of the film industry and ensure that nothing like this ever happens again.”
Film armorer Hannah Gutierrez Reed, who loaded the gun that day and was in charge of weapons on set, will also be charged with two counts of manslaughter. Halls agreed to a plea bargain on charges of negligent use of lethal weapons.
The criminal charges facing Baldwin came as a surprise to many in the film industry and were strongly contested by his legal team. Baldwin’s attorney, Luke Nikas, said the prosecutor’s decision “distorts the tragic death of Halina Hutchins and represents a gross miscarriage of justice.”
“Mr. Baldwin had no reason to believe there was live ammunition anywhere in the gun or on the movie set,” Nikas said in a statement Thursday. We have assured you that there is no live ammunition in our guns and we will stand up to these accusations and win.”
SAG-AFTRA, the union representing film, television and radio workers, said in a statement that Hutchins’ death was a “preventable” tragedy but “was not a dereliction of duty or a criminal act.” ‘ said. performer. ”
The union said, “Prosecutors’ claims that actors have an obligation to ensure the functional and mechanical operation of firearms on set are false and lack information.” is not about becoming a firearms or weapons expert.”
Baldwin, 64, has been a Hollywood icon for decades, the TV star who played Jack Donaghy on ’30 Rock’ and former Donald J. Trump on ‘Saturday Night Live’. played the president. oscar voice with New York Philharmonic Radio Broadcast.
He has long been scrutinized for his off-screen behavior, including run-ins with the paparazzi. Arrested for reverse cycling on Fifth Avenue, Arrested in 2018 parking space dispute and a feud that unfolded on social media.
But he never faced the kind of crisis he is facing now.
Since the shooting, Mr. Baldwin has been trying to strike a delicate balance. He tried to avoid legal jeopardy while maintaining his public innocence to preserve his reputation and career.
he appeared on national televisionhe said he was told there was no live ammunition in the gun, adding that he only followed directions when he pointed the gun at the cinematographer. I can’t say if there is, but I know it’s not me,” he said in an interview.
Privately, according to police reports, he lamented to the fallen detective, “If your name gets associated with anything, no one wants to work with you—nobody.”
After news of the indictment spread, about 20 reporters and photographers encamped on the sidewalk outside his Manhattan apartment to the surprise of neighbors.
If the jury finds Mr. Baldwin or Mr. Gutierrez Reid guilty, they will have a choice of manslaughter. The more serious ones include firearm enhancements and a mandatory five-year sentence for him. The other charge carries a maximum sentence of 18 months in prison.
The criminal charges against Mr. Baldwin are sure to reignite questions about movie set safety and who is to blame. You had a duty to make sure your gun and ammunition were properly checked, and you shouldn’t point it at anyone. “It meets basic safety standards.”
Gutierrez Reed, the armorer who handled the weapons on set and loaded the gun that day, told investigators she checked the gun and all six cartridges she loaded, but she also said: also said. more. ”
One of her attorneys, Jason Bowles, said the client was not responsible for manslaughter and said the investigation into the case was “flawed.”
The October 21, 2021 shooting, which also injured the film’s director, Joel Souza, took place on a small set that looked like a church. Mr. Halls, 63 years old, the first assistant director of a movie, took a revolver Gutierrez Reed, 25, handed it to Baldwin from a gray two-tiered tray outside the church, according to court documents.
Halls’ attorney, Lisa Traco, said in a statement that the plea deal would allow Halls to “put this issue on the back burner, shift the focus of this tragedy to the victims of the shootings and their families, and bring the industry to the forefront.” I was able to turn it into a type,” he said. Accidents never happen again. ”
Prosecutors said they determined it was part of the film industry’s standards to safely handle the guns that actors use on set, and said they interviewed several actors who spoke about the importance of these protocols. Baldwin has denied the idea in the past, saying that from his experience on movie sets, it was not customary for actors to check their guns.
Special Counsel Reeve, who is also a Republican in the New Mexico legislature, said in an interview that Gutierrez Reid is also responsible for ensuring that the guns on set do not contain live ammunition. I took each round out of the gun and waved them in front of the actors – an exercise that helped me make sure the rounds were dummies, inert cartridges that resembled the actual ammunition in the film.
In the aftermath of the shooting, authorities found five more live rounds on set, including on the cart where props were stored and a belt that Mr. Baldwin wore as part of his costume.Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office Investigation by a government office did not answer important questions — how the live ammunition was brought onto the film set — and Reeve said aspects of the incident were still unclear. Told.
The tragedy is caused several lawsuitsincluding those from crew members who have blame the production Failure to properly adhere to safety protocols.
During interviews with the sheriff’s office, several crew members explained the lack of consistent meetings devoted to set safety. I was quitting on complaints about other concerns. In an email to others on set announcing his departure, head of camera Lane Looper wrote that shooting the shootout scene was done “very quickly and loosely”. There were two accidental weapon fires.
Gutierrez-Reed’s attorney was trained on film sets with her father, veteran Hollywood armourer Sel Reed, but she previously held dual roles as an armourer and prop assistant on the “Last” set. was said to have fulfilled so that she can concentrate entirely on her work as an armourer.
Baldwin has denied responsibility for the shooting, saying Hutchins told him where to aim the gun and did not pull the trigger before it fired. He told investigators that he pulled the hammer back and released it into an action that might have caused it.
“I am not 1,000 percent responsible for what happened to her,” Baldwin told investigator Detective Alexandria Hancock in a phone call after the shooting.
Carmack Altwith, a Democrat elected in 2020, said the FBI’s analysis of the gun “conclusively” showed it was triggered.
Prosecutors said those who intended to indict them this month will not be arrested but will be expected to appear in a virtual courtroom. determine if there is a good reason.
Gutierrez-Reed also blames Seth Kenney, the film’s primary supplier of guns and ammunition, for the shooting. filing a lawsuit against him and his company The supplies he sent to the set included a mix of live and dummy rounds.
Kenny said Gutierrez-Reed was responsible for handling bullets on set, and said he checked all the bullets he provided for the production to make sure they weren’t live-action.
Last year, Mr. Hutchins’ widower, Matthew Hutchins, agreed to settle his wrongful death lawsuit Against the production of “rust”. Under the terms of the agreement, Hutchins will become executive producer of “Rust,” which was due to resume filming this month. It wasn’t immediately clear how the planned fees would affect these plans.
Hutchins’ attorney, Brian J. Panish, said in a statement that he agreed with the decision to file criminal charges.
“It’s a comfort to the family that no one is under the rule of law in New Mexico,” Panish said. “We support the prosecution and co-operate fully with this prosecution and fervently hope that the justice system will work to protect the public and hold those who break the law accountable.”
brooks burns When Wesley Parnell contributed to the report.