In a dramatic turn of events, fresh evidence has surfaced suggesting Alec Baldwin exhibited reckless behavior with a revolver prior to the fatal shooting of “Rust” cinematographer Halyna Hutchins in 2021, according to prosecutors. This revelation comes just weeks before Baldwin’s manslaughter trial set for July.
Photos and videos from the set, taken by crew members and a set photographer, reveal Baldwin engaging in unsafe practices with the firearm. Prosecutors claim he pointed the gun at a crew member and fired a blank round, kept his finger on the trigger when he shouldn’t have, and engaged in horseplay with the weapon.
Baldwin’s defense team has countered these claims, arguing in a recent motion that the prosecution’s case hinges on the unverified assumption that the gun was functioning correctly and could only fire if the trigger was pulled. Baldwin insists he did not pull the trigger, asserting instead that the gun was modified in a way that allowed it to discharge without a trigger pull.
The incident occurred when “Rust” armorer Hannah Gutierrez allegedly loaded a live round into Baldwin’s Colt .45 revolver during filming at a church set near Santa Fe, New Mexico. Gutierrez has since been convicted of involuntary manslaughter and sentenced to 18 months in prison, the same sentence Baldwin faces if found guilty.
Baldwin maintains that he was instructed to point the gun towards the camera and that it discharged on its own when he cocked it. Prosecutors plan to present new evidence at the upcoming trial, including a photo taken by set photographer Karen Kuehn just minutes before the 911 call was made. In this photo, Baldwin appears to have his finger on the trigger and his thumb on the hammer.
Additionally, a video clip from script supervisor Mamie Mitchell, recorded hours before the shooting, allegedly shows Baldwin cocking the gun and possibly pulling the trigger. Another video from the day of the incident reportedly shows Baldwin being asked to point the gun left of the camera and cocking it, despite not being instructed to do so. Evidence suggests he may have also pulled the trigger.
Industry guidelines for firearm safety on movie sets dictate that actors should never place their finger on the trigger unless ready to shoot, should always treat firearms as loaded, and should never point a gun at anyone unless absolutely necessary and under the guidance of a safety expert. Some of this evidence had previously been presented during Gutierrez’s trial in March.
As Baldwin’s trial date approaches, the newly presented evidence is expected to play a crucial role in the proceedings, further complicating an already high-profile case that has captivated the nation.
