Topline
The weapons supervisor on the film Rust who faces involuntary manslaughter charges was hungover when she loaded a live bullet into the gun actor Alec Baldwin used when he shot and killed cinematographer Halyna Hutchins in October 2021, prosecutors in the case are alleging.
Prosecutors allege the weapons supervisor on the Rust movie set was hungover when she loaded a live … [+]
Key Facts
Prosecutors allege Hannah Gutierrez-Reed—the weapons supervisor on the Rust movie set—was drinking and smoking marijuana in the evenings during the filming of the movie, the AP reported.
Gutierrez-Reed’s attorney, Jason Bowles, claimed the prosecution has mishandled the case and is now resorting to character assassination claims about Gutierrez-Reed, the attorney told the AP.
The prosecutor’s comments were made in response to a motion from Gutierrez-Reed’s attorney’s to dismiss her involuntary manslaughter charge, the AP reported.
Key Background
Both Baldwin and Gutierrez-Reed were charged with involuntary manslaughter but the charge against Baldwin was dismissed in April—a year and a half after Hutchins was killed on the New Mexico set of Rust, after a gun Balwdin was holding discharged and shot her. Prosecutors said at the time they needed more time to investigate. Live ammunition was not supposed to be on the set, and since the incident Balwdwin has maintained he believed the gun was safe. Before the charges were dropped, prosecutors alleged photos and videos from the set showed Baldwin with his finger on the trigger.
What To Watch For
A preliminary hearing for Gutierrez-Reed is scheduled for August. At that point, a judge will decide if there is probable cause for Gutierrez-Reed’s charge to move forward. The AP noted prosecutors expect to decide whether or not to recharge Baldwin in the next 60 days, depending on analysis of the gun used on the set of the film.
Surprising Fact
Filming on the set of Rust resumed in April, 18 months after the deadly incident first took place.
Further Reading
Alec Baldwin Charges Dropped Because Of Trigger Malfunction, Report Says (Forbes)
Alec Baldwin Charges Dropped After Fatal ‘Rust’ Shooting, Lawyers Say (Forbes)
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/anafaguy/2023/06/14/gun-expert-during-fatal-rust-shooting-may-have-been-stoned-prosecutors-claim/