Things are not looking good for Alec Baldwin as the weapons specialist for ‘Rust’ claims he was ‘distracted’ and ‘on his cell phone’ during weapons training.
Armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed told investigators that Baldwin was scheduled to partake in a training session on handling weapons for at least an hour, but due to Baldwin’s constant distractions, the lesson was cut short and only lasted 30 minutes. Along with Baldwin, Gutierrez-Reed was also charged two felony counts of involuntary manslaughter and involuntary manslaughter in the commission of a lawful act.
This bombshell claim was made in legal documents released as Baldwin and Gutierrez-Reed were formally charged in relation to the October 2021 death of Halyna Hutchins.
Here’s more from The Times UK:
According to the statement of probable cause for prosecuting Baldwin, there was no need for him to fire the .45 long Colt calibre revolver during rehearsals. “It was also determined by consultation with expert armourers that in a rehearsal, a plastic gun or replica gun should be used as no firing of blanks is required,” the document states. Baldwin has previously denied pulling the trigger.
Gutierrez-Reed is said to have told investigators that Baldwin was scheduled to take a training session on handling weapons for at least an hour but the lesson lasted about 30 minutes, according to the document, because Baldwin “was distracted and talking on his cell phone to his family during the training”.
Prosecutors also said Baldwin should have assumed the weapon he was holding was loaded with live rounds and that “the first rule of gun safety is never to point a gun at someone you don’t intend on shooting”.
“This reckless deviation from known standards and practice and protocol directly caused the fatal shooting,” the document says. “Baldwin acted with wilful disregard of the safety of others and in a manner which endangered other people.”
If Baldwin is charged, he faces 5 years in jail.