Alec Baldwin 'in tears' after firing prop gun on movie set that killed crew member, injured director

[Teh One Who Knocks]

By Dom Calicchio | Fox News


https://i.imgur.com/YaMH7eZh.jpg

Actor Alec Baldwin was seen "in tears" by two members of the press in New Mexico following a shooting on the set of the movie "Rust" that left the film’s cinematographer dead and its director wounded, according to a report.

Baldwin, 63, had reportedly fired what was described as a "prop firearm" at the Bonanza Creek Ranch, fatally wounding cinematographer Halnya Hutchins, 42, and wounding director Joel Souza, 48, the Santa Fe New Mexican newspaper reported.

Two of the newspaper’s staffers – a reporter and a photographer – said they saw Baldwin "in tears" after the incident, which the newspaper reported had not yet been declared an "accident" by the Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office.

Baldwin was questioned by investigators following the incident, sources told the newspaper. But no charges were filed in connection with the case, which remained under investigation, Juan Rios, a spokesman for the sheriff’s office, said in a statement, according to the New Mexican.

Hutchins died at the University of New Mexico Hospital in Albuquerque after being flown there, while Souza was being treated at Christus St. Vincent Regional Medical Center in Santa Fe, the newspaper reported.

Deputies were at the scene working to determine how the incident happened and what type of projectile was used in the firearm, the New Mexican reported.

Souza had worked with Baldwin at least once previously, on the 2019 film "Crown Vic," on which Souza was a director and Baldwin was a producer.

Some initial reports said Souza was critically wounded in Thursday's shooting, but early Friday "Rust" co-star Frances Fisher tweeted that Souza had been released from the hospital. She also disputed some published reporting about the incident.
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[lost in melb.]

Is this for real??

[Teh One Who Knocks]

Is this for real??

Yes, it was on the news last night. Production on the movie has completely shut down pending investigation.

[lost in melb.]

Yes, it was on the news last night. Production on the movie has completely shut down pending investigation.

Thanks. It just seemed too unbelievable to be true.

[Goofy]

Heard this on the radio this morning, instantly reminded me of Brandon Lee :rip:

[deebakes]

the crow :rip:

[PorkChopSandwiches]

I dont understand how this is possible by accident

[Griffin]

like Baldwin needs another reason to condemn private gun owners

[PorkChopSandwiches]

like Baldwin needs another reason to condemn private gun owners

Well he killed someone, we haven't

[Pony]

I dont understand how this is possible by accident

Right? I wouldn't think loaded weapons are commonly left laying around a movie set. And the prop gun should be checked and rechecked along with other safety measures.


Film sets usually have strict rules about the use of prop guns. Specialists provide weapons for use on film sets and advise on their use.

"There's basic safety measures on every set," said Mike Tristano, an armourer who has worked with Alec Baldwin in the past.

"You never point a gun, even if it is not a firing gun, at anyone else. I'm at a loss how this could have happened and how it could have done that much damage."

A common shot in film shows an actor firing into the camera and Steven Hall, who has worked on films such as Fury and The Imitation Game, says it only happens with safeguards.

"If you are in the line of fire... You would have a face mask, you would have goggles, you would stand behind a Perspex screen, and you would minimise the number of people by the camera, " he said.

"What I don't understand in this instance is how two people have been injured, one tragically killed, in the same event."

[Godfather]

Absolutely horrific. I can't imagine how anyone can move on from this, even if it wasn't their fault. It's not the actor's responsibility to make sure the prop gun is safe, that armorer is toast.

[Pony]

Absolutely horrific. I can't imagine how anyone can move on from this, even if it wasn't their fault. It's not the actor's responsibility to make sure the prop gun is safe, that armorer is toast.

Depends on if they were actually filming or if he was goofing around. Or if every precaution was taken and it was just some sort of freak accident....

[Godfather]

I suppose that's true, didn't think of that. We'll see, he's a seasoned actor, would hope he's been on enough sets to have been given a few gun talks...

[Godfather]

https://bc.ctvnews.ca/video?cid=sm%3Atrueanthem%3Actvvancouver%3Atwitter post&clipId=2307311&taid=6174b0157778c400018f724a&utm_campaign=trueAnthem%3A+Trending+Content&utm_medium=trueAnthem&utm_source=twitter


Looks like he was told the gun was cold and safe to use before firing, but the set sounds like it was a mess beforehand. Awful.

[Pony]

Wow. :shock:

Why are there even ANY live rounds anywhere on set? And it sure sounds like an accident was inevitable. If that's all true some heads are gonna roll.

[Godfather]

I wonder if Baldwin just retires from acting at this point. Obviously I can't put myself in his shoes but I'd be done with media attention forever at that point and just want to disappear.

[Hikari Kisugi]

Wow. :shock:

Why are there even ANY live rounds anywhere on set? And it sure sounds like an accident was inevitable. If that's all true some heads are gonna roll.

I actually pondered this, when they show people shooting and missing and stuff flying up from where the impact should be, I never thought they used actual live rounds to create the effect, always assumed they used small pyro to explode along the ground etc. Do they use live rounds?

[Pony]

I actually pondered this, when they show people shooting and missing and stuff flying up from where the impact should be, I never thought they used actual live rounds to create the effect, always assumed they used small pyro to explode along the ground etc. Do they use live rounds?

I would assume too that it's small pyro. Mostly because it would be too difficult to film exactly where impacts hit unless you had expert shooters hitting an exact mark. Plus I'm sure they make many of the impacts "bigger" for cinematic effect.

[Teh One Who Knocks]

By Tyler McCarthy | Fox News


https://i.imgur.com/dc6sATe.png

The "Rust" crew member who reportedly gave Alec Baldwin a prop gun that killed cinematographer Halyna Hutchins was previously the subject of a safety complaint.

Crew member Maggie Goll said in a statement to The Associated Press that she filed an internal complaint with the executive producers of Hulu’s "Into the Dark" series in 2019 over concerns about assistant director Dave Halls' behavior on set. Goll said in an email Sunday that Halls disregarded safety protocols for weapons and pyrotechnics and tried to continue filming after a crew member had "slipped into a diabetic fugue state."

"He did not maintain a safe working environment," Goll told NBC News. "Sets were almost always allowed to become increasingly claustrophobic, no established fire lanes, exits blocked ... safety meetings were nonexistent."

Baldwin fired a prop gun on the New Mexico set of the film "Rust" Thursday, killing 42-year-old Halyna Hutchins and wounding director Joel Souza, who was standing behind her. Souza has since been released from a hospital. It was previously reported that Halls handed Baldwin the firearm, mistakenly announcing at the time that it was a "cold gun," meaning that it was an unloaded weapon. Instead, it was loaded with live rounds, according to the records.

The gun Baldwin used was one of three that a firearms specialist, or armorer, had set on a cart outside the building where a scene was being rehearsed, according to court records. Halls grabbed a gun off a cart and handed it to Baldwin, according to the records.

Baldwin, 63, who is known for his roles in "30 Rock" and "The Hunt for Red October" and his impression of former President Donald Trump on "Saturday Night Live," broke his silence on the shooting on Friday, one day after the incident.

"There are no words to convey my shock and sadness regarding the tragic accident that took the life of Halyna Hutchins, a wife, mother and deeply admired colleague of ours," Baldwin said on Twitter.

"I'm fully cooperating with the police investigation to address how this tragedy occurred and I am in touch with her husband, offering my support to him and his family. My heart is broken for her husband, their son, and all who knew and loved Halyna," the actor concluded.

Baldwin, who is a producer on "Rust," met with Hutchins' husband and 9-year-old son Saturday at a hotel in Santa Fe where the actor had been staying during filming. Baldwin and Hutchins' husband can be seen embracing in an emotional meeting.

Goll, a prop maker and licensed pyrotechnician, said in her email that Halls' behavior on set has concerned her in the past.

During work on "Into the Dark," Halls didn't hold safety meetings and consistently failed to announce the presence of a firearm on set to the crew, as is protocol, Goll said. The assistant prop master admonished Halls several times for dismissing the actors and actresses before they had returned weapons to the props table, she said.

"The only reason the crew was made aware of a weapon’s presence was because the assistant prop master demanded Dave acknowledge and announce the situation each day," she wrote.

She filed an internal complaint with the executive producers of Blumhouse Productions, she said.

"To my knowledge nothing was done after my complaints," she wrote.

A spokesman for Blumhouse Productions told NBC News, "We used non-firing, dummy firearm props during the production of "Pure." No complaints were received via the studio’s anonymous reporting system EthicsPoint/Navex regarding safety concerns."

"We cannot comment on personnel matters," the Blumhouse spokesperson added regarding allegations against Halls.

Fox News' attempts to reach Halls were not successful.

"I am gutted at not pushing harder for greater accountability and safety," Goll said. "Many of us have messaged each other wondering the same thing: Is there something we could have done then that would have prevented the tragedy? It is a horrible feeling."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

[lost in melb.]

If true, assistant director Halls should be up for manslaughter.

The production coordinator has some responsibility too, given they would have been partially responsible for hiring Halls.

Not sure if Baldwin is in direct line of fire. As producer he is moreso responsible for hiring the creative staff ( writers and director) not so much production staff (assistant director, which is what Halls is). But then the question begs, who is responsible for a hiring the assistant director?

[Teh One Who Knocks]

By Gabrielle Fonrouge and Kenneth Garger - New York Post


https://i.imgur.com/XF4Zks5l.jpg

SANTA FE, N.M. — Alec Baldwin was practicing a “cross draw” in a church pew that required pointing his weapon at the camera during the prop gun mishap that left cinematographer Halyna Hutchins dead, newly released documents reveal.

Two new witness accounts made public by the Sante Fe Sheriff’s Office on Sunday night describe the harrowing moment the 42-year-old director of photography was shot inside the church building on the New Mexico set of the film “Rust.”

Baldwin was rehearsing the gun retrieval method from a pew of the mock church at Bonanza Creek Ranch when he aimed at the camera, while both Hutchins and 48-year-old director Joel Souza stood behind it.

Souza then says he heard a “loud pop” and realized both he and Hutchins were bleeding, according to a police interview.

The director told investigators that he remembered hearing the phrase “cold gun” while preparing for the scene, indicating the firearm wasn’t loaded and was safe for use, but he couldn’t remember if the gun, described as a “revolver” in the records, had been checked after the crew returned from a lunch break before the incident happened.

Another witness, cameraman Reid Russel, gave additional insight into the moments leading up to the horrific tragedy.

“[Russel] said while preparing, there was a shadow coming from the outside light and they had to move the camera at a different angle from Alec,” the warrant says.

“He said Alec was trying to explain how he was going to draw out the firearm and where his arm would be at when the firearm was pulled from the holster,” according to the warrant.

“[Russel] was not sure why the firearm was discharged and just remembered the loud bang from the firearm,” the document states.

Souza, who was looking over Hutchins’ shoulder when the Thursday tragedy unfolded, was struck in the shoulder and Hutchins in the chest.

“[Russel] said after the firearm was discharged, he remembered [Souza] having blood on his person, and [Hutchins] speaking and saying she couldn’t feel her legs,” the record says.

“[Russel] stated once [Hutchins] was on the ground, medics began to treat her injury as she was bleeding while on the floor of the building they were in.”

Souza told authorities that Hutchins stumbled backward while complaining of pain before she was helped to the ground. Hutchins was airlifted to the hospital, but could not be saved. Souza has since been released from the hospital.

The fatal mishap happened during a tense day on set following numerous issues between the crew and the production team overseeing the film.

Russel told police that filming was behind schedule that day and he “had much work to complete” after six members of the camera crew walked off the set in the morning following “issues with production involving payment and housing,” the document states.

He added the crew who had walked off, who were reportedly replaced with non-union workers and threatened with “security” if they didn’t immediately leave, had previously penned a “letter to production on disagreements.”

Souza had also mentioned production was behind schedule, largely because there was only one camera available to use after the crew walked off.

“During the morning hours, the day started off late due to a camera crew that had quit and they had to find another camera crew to help film the movie,” Souza told police.

“[Souza] said once they hired another camera crew to assist, the day was taking longer than usual because they only had one camera to do the filming.”

Filmmakers have traditionally used real guns on movie sets but load them with blanks instead of real bullets to avoid a similar mishap.

Production on the film has been halted amid an investigation on the shooting, and an “absolutely devastated” Baldwin is reportedly taking time off from his other projects.

No arrests have been made. The Santa Fe Sheriff’s Office said Sunday night the incident “remains an active, open investigation” and a press conference on the matter will be held on Wednesday.

[Teh One Who Knocks]

By Patrick Reilly - New York Post


https://i.imgur.com/cX74z6F.jpg

Alec Baldwin said he’s not to blame for the death of a cinematographer he shot with a prop gun on the “Rust” movie set because there never should have been live rounds on the property.

Baldwin was handling the gun when a live shot rang out, killing cinematographer Halyna Hutchins and wounding the film’s director Joel Souza on Oct. 21 in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

“There’s only one question that needs to be resolved, just one: where did the live round come from?” Baldwin told ABC News’ George Stephanopoulos in an interview that aired Thursday.

“Someone put a live bullet in a gun. A live bullet that wasn’t even supposed to be on the property,” he said in the interview, his first since the fatal accident. “Someone is ​responsible for what happened, and I can’t say who that is, but I know it’s not me.”

Baldwin was visibly emotional and broke down at times during the one-hour interview as he discussed the shooting, which the actor called the worst thing to ever happen to him.

https://i.imgur.com/u0pKToN.jpg
Cinematographer Halyna Hutchins was fatally shot on the movie set of “Rust” in October.

Baldwin told Stephanopoulos that he decided to come forward and speak publicly about the incident because he couldn’t wait what could be months until the investigation concluded to clear up what he called “misconceptions” surrounding the incident and its aftermath.

He described the moments leading up to shooting as he and Hutchins worked on capturing the best gun angle for a scene in which he claimed he never was meant to pull the trigger — only to cock the gun back. The actor said he was assured the gun was a “cold gun” by assistant director Dave Halls, who handed him the weapon.

As Baldwin and Hutchins practiced different motions and angles for the shot, the gun fired, although he said he never even pulled the trigger.

“I let go of the hammer. Bang! The gun goes off,” Baldwin said, not believing he could have possibly have shot her.

https://i.imgur.com/vDepcmhl.jpg

“I thought to myself, ‘Did she faint?’ The notion that there was a live round in that gun did not dawn on me for probably 45 minutes to an hour later,” Baldwin told Stephanopoulos.

“No one could understand. Did she have a heart attack? The idea that someone put a live bullet in the gun was not even in reality.”

“She just laid there kind of in shock,” he said, before responders arrived.

The shooting occurred on the same day that several crew members walked off the set for purportedly unsafe and subpar working conditions and made demands such as better hotel rooms.

“In my opinion no … I did not observe any safety or security issues,” Baldwin said of his time on set.

His interview comes after a new search warrant approved by a judge on Tuesday revealed the live round may have been left in the gun from a previous film production.

Baldwin said he had never before worked with Hutchins until “Rust” but was impressed with how dedicated and driven she had been.

“She was someone who was loved by everyone she worked with, was liked by everyone she worked with and admired,” he said, choking back tears.

https://i.imgur.com/GVAkS53.png

Armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, who was working on just her second film, was in charge of training actors in gun safety and handling the weapons. Her attorney has claimed that there is a possibility that the bullet was intentionally placed in the chamber to sabotage the film, which Baldwin denied, as have investigators.

“That’s a big swing,” the actor said. “That’s an enormous charge to make. For what purpose? To attack who? To harm me? The production?”

“It’s overwhelmingly likely that it was an accident.”

The incident has left Baldwin shook, saying he’s exhausted after losing so much sleep over the past several weeks.

“I’m not somebody who has very vivid dreams but I dream about this constantly now,” he said.

Baldwin told Stephanopoulos that the most important thing in his life right now is his family, and not his career. He is slated to film another movie in January although he said he “can’t imagine I’d ever do another movie with a gun in it ever again,” he said.

Baldwin claims he isn’t worried about potential criminal action against him — as the actor who fired the gun and as a “purely creative” producer on the film. He said his only production responsibilities centered around the script and casting. To date, no charges have been brought in the film set shooting.

“It’s highly unlikely I would be charged with anything criminally,” he said he’s been told.

Two civil lawsuits filed by crew members Serge Svetnoy and Mamie Mitchell have claimed Baldwin bears responsibility for the unsafe working conditions on set. The suits also name other producers, Halls and Gutierrez-Reed as defendants.

After Hutchins was killed, Baldwin took her husband Matthew and their young son out to dinner before they attended a memorial service for her, he said.

“I said, ‘I don’t know what to say, I don’t know how to convey how sorry I am to you,” Baldwin said.

[lost in melb.]

Something about the gun firing without the trigger being pulled ??

I guess we'll hear more about it, but I was under the impression that it was a very old gun - an original, not a replica. Which begs the question even further, why was there a live round inside??

[Griffin]

Something about the gun firing without the trigger being pulled ??

I guess we'll hear more about it, but I was under the impression that it was a very old gun - an original, not a replica. Which begs the question even further, why was there a live round inside??

It's a single action revolver meaning the hammer has to be cocked back manually (which rotated the cylinder at the same time) and released the hammer by the trigger being pulled. In older revolvers it was quite common for the shooter to not pull the hammer back far enough and not set the trigger but far enough for the hammer spring to have enough force to fire the round. Modern revolvers have a safety feature that will block the hammer if it wasn't put into full action. You will see in old westerns where the shooter just held the trigger as they fanned the hammer with their free hand thus allowing them to empty the gun rapidly, although accuracy has been shot.

As far as the live round on set, there were reports of the cast and crew playing around having target practice during off times.

[Teh One Who Knocks]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yoey1KEwx4o

[Griffin]

Others in the old west would just wire the trigger back so they could start fanning as soon as they slapped leather.

[Muddy]

I saw a snippet of that interview.. He looks horrible...

[Godfather]

I thought it was really interesting what he said about not checking weapons are safe before using them on sets his entire career. He basically said his first movie, he tried to do it, but the prop-master then took the gun back and had to check it again. I'm paraphrasing but Balwin said he was always told if he went and fiddled with the gun after it was checked and handed to him, the armorer would always have to take it back and re-check it to be the very last point of contact and the one ultimately responsible to clear the weapon safe again in case an actors did something unsafe. He also said clearly that's going to change now for actors, and he probably won't work on a set with guns again.

On one hand that goes against everything anyone ever learns about handling weapons... on the other hand, if I'm the one a gun is pointed at, having a professional armorer be the last person to clear a weapon safe before some dumb actors fucks around with it again also makes a lot of logical sense too. I dono what to think there but I'm leaning towards the latter approach the film industry has apparently been using still being the right one.

[Griffin]

I thought it was really interesting what he said about not checking weapons are safe before using them on sets his entire career.


By Patrick Reilly - New York Post
Armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, who was working on just her second film, was in charge of training actors in gun safety and handling the weapons.

Sounds to me like Baldwin is just trying to deflect his responsibility.

[Godfather]

For sure. I'd be curious to hear other big actors who've working on high budget films with weapons to see what their process is with armorers... not that many big name actors are going to touch this topic with a 10-foot stick right now.

[Pony]

Sounds to me like Baldwin is just trying to deflect his responsibility.

Yep, this. Not saying he is solely responsible but he's claiming he has zero responsibility for murder.

[Teh One Who Knocks]

By Tyler McCarthy | Fox News


https://i.imgur.com/pMKa4lCl.jpg

Alec Baldwin has deleted one of his two Twitter accounts following his tell-all interview with George Stephanopoulos about the shooting incident that took place on the set of the movie "Rust."

The actor had two verified Twitter accounts, one of which he was much more active on and was the one he used to previously issue statements about the fatal shooting incident that took place on the set of the indie-western movie in October. However, following his interview last week, it seems the star has completely deleted the account labeled @AlecBaldwin. However, his account @AlecBaldwln____ remains live with the latest tweet being from October 19. Prior to that, it was only active in June.

It’s unclear why the actor chose this time to delete the account. Representatives for Baldwin did not immediately respond to Fox News’ request for comment.

However, the timing coincides with the debut of his interview with Stephanopoulos, which was his first formal interview since the on-set tragedy that resulted in the death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins and injured director Joel Souza.

Among the many revealing moments from the interview was the assertion from the 63-year-old actor that he did not pull the trigger that resulted in the gun firing. Instead, he claims that he was rehearsing the scene with Hutchins and that it required him to pull the hammer back on the firearm.

"I let go of the hammer of the gun," Baldwin described. "And the gun goes off."

Baldwin said he didn't know what had happened until he was in the police station, hours later. A police officer told Baldwin that a .45 caliber slug came out of Souza's shoulder at the conclusion of his interview, he said. The police also confirmed Hutchins' death to Baldwin at the end of the interview.

Other noteworthy moments included Baldwin saying that he does not believe he’ll be charged with any crimes as a result of the incident. However, he is currently among those involved in civil litigation over the death of Hutchins.

Fox News’ Jessica Napoli and the Associated Press contributed to this report.

[Muddy]

Deleting Twitter doesn't matter now.. Your every word is in the database..

[Teh One Who Knocks]

By Maureen Callahan - New York Post Opinion


https://i.imgur.com/pgJxYc6l.jpg

Alec Baldwin has always insisted, despite all evidence to the contrary, that he didn’t pull that trigger.

The FBI now says that he did. That finding, released over the weekend, comes just after the Santa Fe Sheriff’s Office announced they’re only waiting on Baldwin’s phone records before sending their investigative file to the DA’s office.

Are the walls closing in yet, Alec?

This FBI report is reason to cheer. Not since OJ Simpson have we seen someone so guilty act so aggrieved, entitled, put-upon and victimized, as if this whole tragedy has affected no one more than Baldwin himself — not Halyna Hutchins’s husband, not her little boy, so traumatized after her death he couldn’t speak for days, but Alec freaking Baldwin.

Think that’s overstatement? Let me count the ways: Gallivanting through the Hamptons and Vermont, just days after the shooting, Baldwin shopping at Ralph Lauren and preening before the paps — you know, the ones he otherwise hates and physically attacks — so they could get the perfect shot of Baldwin, inside a gleaming restaurant, holding his head in his hands. The bizarre roadside presser with his fake Spanish wife, the Rachel Dolezal of the Hamptons, in which he claimed the “Rust” set was run by “a very, very well-oiled crew” who just had the bad luck to suffer this “one in a trillion” tragedy.

The barrage of social media posts in the days after, Hilaria and Alec gloating over their family — that is, when Hilaria wasn’t getting in on the victim act herself, writing that “parenting through this has been an intense experience, to say the least.”

Know what else will be an intense experience? Criminal charges, jail time, and the loss of all his money in civil litigation. (On Monday, the New Mexico medical investigator ruled the shooting an accident; the district attorney has yet to decide whether or not to file charges.)

https://i.imgur.com/LiDp68N.png

Did I mention that the Baldwins thought there was no better time to buy a sprawling, historic Vermont farmhouse for $1.75 million?

That’s how delusional these two are. How surely they believe Alec to be above the law or any consequence.

As two firearms experts in on-set safety told me last year: Guns don’t shoot themselves. Alec Baldwin, for all his crocodile tears and caterwauling, pulled that trigger and killed Halyna Hutchins.

“I’m not aware of any gun firing itself,” veteran Hollywood firearms expert Steve Wolf told me last December, after Alec’s poor-me softball sit-down with ABC’s George Stephanopolous — his good pal from the Hamptons social scene, not that either disclosed that little conflict of interest.

https://i.imgur.com/n3jQleI.png

“The trigger still must have been pressed,” Wolf said. “It’s really important to discredit anyone who claims that guns fire themselves. If this becomes an acceptable defense, there goes any accountability when it comes to shooting people. We can’t have this kind of ‘guns shoot themselves’ thing. They don’t.”

Former FBI agent turned Hollywood firearms consultant Bobby Chacon told me the same thing.

“The bullet striking and killing that woman came out of the barrel of the gun pointed directly at her,” Chacon said. “Bullets don’t curve. He isn’t in ‘The Matrix.’ The trigger would still have to be pulled.”

Alec, to Stephanopolous: “I would never point a gun at anyone and pull the trigger at them. Never.” Also, he was brazen enough to say he felt no guilt.

https://i.imgur.com/gHX0Sl0.png

This was the same interview in which Baldwin claimed Hutchins told him to point the gun at her. “Everything is at her direction,” he said. “I’m holding the gun where she told me to hold it, which ended up right below her armpit.”

So which is it, Alec? You’d never point a gun at anyone, or you pointed the gun at Hutchins because she told you to? And if it’s the latter, what are we to infer — that Hutchins is to blame for you pulling the trigger and shooting her to death?

It’s all so vile, but take heart: As a producer on “Rust,” Baldwin may also share blame for the rookie mistakes and cost-cutting that led up to this tragedy. Don’t forget that on the morning Hutchins was killed, seven crew members walked off the set over safety concerns.

At least one had sounded the alarm to the unit production manager, at one point texting, “We’ve now had three accidental discharges. This is super unsafe.

”It’s easy to see how such standard safety protocols went ignored and how dire warnings were shrugged off. As the old saying goes, the fish rots from the head, and Baldwin, as we’ve all seen over the past year, lives in a reality of his own making: His wife, née Hillary Thomas from Boston, is, through sheer force of make-believe and some bronzer, Spanish. His great friend Woody Allen is just misunderstood.

And, of course, it’s totally proper to brag about your happy family life incessantly on Instagram while ignoring your part in destroying another young family.

In Baldwin’s demented worldview, anyone who thinks he’s responsible for the death of a beautiful young wife and mother, her whole life and career ahead of her, must be motivated by animus or greed. Even the widower.

https://i.imgur.com/r8s7Mq8.png

“What you have is a certain group of people, litigants and whatever” — ! — “on whatever side, who, their attitude is, ‘Well, the people who likely seem negligent have no money, and the people who have money are not negligent.’ ”

This was Baldwin in March, weeks after Hutchins’ widower filed his civil suit against Baldwin and went on the Today show, calmly expressing his justifiable anger over Baldwin’s interview with Stephanopolous.

“Hearing him blame Halyna in the interview and shift responsibility to others and seeing him cry about it — I just feel, are we really supposed to feel bad about you, Mr. Baldwin?”

Hutchins went on to state the obvious, which again continues to elude Baldwin — Baldwin, who likes to pride himself on being smarter than the average Hollywood duck, what with his one-time NPR show and his bestselling memoir and his coverage in The New Yorker and telling the New York Times that he was qualified to be governor of New York. Oh, and his liberal bona fides with his “SNL” spoofs of Donald Trump, a man he has more in common with than he could ever admit.

https://i.imgur.com/vAe0aab.png

Lest there remain any doubt as to who Alec Baldwin really is, consider these text messages between Baldwin and Matt Hutchins — who Baldwin was so quick to befriend in the hours after the shooting.

Wednesday, Dec. 1, 2021, after Hutchins reaches out to Baldwin:

AB: I am with my kids.

!!!!!!!

AB: Your attorney told me not to contact you. So . . . what’s up?

https://i.imgur.com/kAqetFZ.png

What’s up? That says it all. That’s Baldwin saying: Why are you bothering me, what could you possibly have to say, can’t we just do this through lawyers, what are you, sad or something?

AB: Make sure you tell your lawyer that you reached out to me and not vice versa.

MH: Of course. You can always text me if you have something on your mind.

AB: Your lawyer sent a variant of a cease and desist to me. Told me not to contact you. So, there’s that.

How callous. How heartless — especially for someone who has spent the past ten months begging for sympathy and understanding.

Karma isn’t a big enough concept to describe what Alec Baldwin has coming. Fortunately for decent people everywhere, sloppy emotional ploys and disgusting attempts to blame the victim do not apply to the criminal justice system, the FBI, or the laws of physics.

So, you know, there’s that.

[Pony]

So... I've a legal question for those that are more knowledgeable than me:

Civil suits have been filed. If the wife leaves him tomorrow, takes the kids and they finalize a divorce where she gets 50% of his assets plus child support BEFORE any civil suit goes to trial, is that money she got now considered untouchable as it's no longer his assets?

[DemonGeminiX]

So... I've a legal question for those that are more knowledgeable than me:

Civil suits have been filed. If the wife leaves him tomorrow, takes the kids and they finalize a divorce where she gets 50% of his assets plus child support BEFORE any civil suit goes to trial, is that money she got now considered untouchable as it's no longer his assets?

That's a really good question. I don't know. It'd be a convoluted way to "hide" assets from exposure to the civil suits. I wonder if anybody has ever tried doing that before? It can't be a novel idea.

[DemonGeminiX]

Alright, I asked some knowledgeable sources and here's what I have gathered: it really depends on state civil statutes. Each state has their own rules governing these things. However, generally speaking, a divorce is a separate civil issue from the civil suits that Baldwin's going to face. If his wife divorces him and takes 50% of all of his assets, then legally speaking, those assets no longer belong to Baldwin and are not exposed to any other civil suit or settlement that Baldwin will face, provided the divorce ends and his wife is awarded judgement before any court award from the other civil suits that he's facing.

[Godfather]

Alright, I asked some knowledgeable sources and here's what I have gathered: it really depends on state civil statutes. Each state has their own rules governing these things. However, generally speaking, a divorce is a separate civil issue from the civil suits that Baldwin's going to face. If his wife divorces him and takes 50% of all of his assets, then legally speaking, those assets no longer belong to Baldwin and are not exposed to any other civil suit or settlement that Baldwin will face, provided the divorce ends and his wife is awarded judgement before any court award from the other civil suits that he's facing.

That's interesting. I think if the courts are just, they should examine any outstanding lawsuits against either party in the divorce and consider that when separating assets. Maybe some do, I dono, but using divorce as a tool to hide from litigation would be some bullshit. If I were a judge and had the power to do so, I'd at very least want some proof the divorce was being considered prior to the event leading to the lawsuit, or maybe even demand that they hold some assets in a trust or whatever if there wasn't going to be enough for the one party to cover potential damages after splitting assets. That just seems rational to me, but I totally get that's not how the law always operates.

I wonder if anyone's ever caught shit for a sham divorce used to protect assets. That should be punishable.

[DemonGeminiX]

That's interesting. I think if the courts are just, they should examine any outstanding lawsuits against either party in the divorce and consider that when separating assets. Maybe some do, I dono, but using divorce as a tool to hide from litigation would be some bullshit. If I were a judge and had the power to do so, I'd at very least want some proof the divorce was being considered prior to the event leading to the lawsuit, or maybe even demand that they hold some assets in a trust or whatever if there wasn't going to be enough for the one party to cover potential damages after splitting assets. That just seems rational to me, but I totally get that's not how the law always operates.

I wonder if anyone's ever caught shit for a sham divorce used to protect assets. That should be punishable.

See, that's what I said originally. But it really does depend on the state that the lawsuits are filed in. You've got 50 different states each with their own set of civil laws. And the civil laws can vary greatly. I would think that now that civil suits have been filed, if a divorce has been filed immediately afterwards, then a judge would order his assets frozen pending the outcome of the original lawsuits, and order the divorce proceedings to take place after the civil suits are resolved and relevant parties awarded.

So in which state are the lawsuits pending? What do that state's civil statutes say, if anything at all? How smart is the district/magistrate judge presiding over the civil suits?

[Godfather]

That's a good point, the divorce being in one state and the civil suit being in another would almost certainly add all sorts of layers of complexity even if one state or the other has any precedent in those circumstances... I pity the junior associate who would be tasked with finding the case law, searching late into the night trying to sort that out for their defense :lol:

[Pony]

Wow, some really interesting points here, thanks guys. It HAS to have happened before, especially if it's a large sum of money on the line.



Maybe some do, I dono, but using divorce as a tool to hide from litigation would be some bullshit. If I were a judge and had the power to do so, I'd at very least want some proof the divorce was being considered prior to the event leading to the lawsuit, or maybe even demand that they hold some assets in a trust or whatever if there wasn't going to be enough for the one party to cover potential damages after splitting assets. That just seems rational to me, but I totally get that's not how the law always operates.

I wonder if anyone's ever caught shit for a sham divorce used to protect assets. That should be punishable.

Yea, if it's an obvious sham I absolutely agree. But what if the guy got caught doing something horrible like raping kids, the wife would absolutely be justified in GTFO and divorcing ASAP. Of course she would probably file for divorce BEFORE the civil suit under those circumstances.... I dunno.


I would think that now that civil suits have been filed, if a divorce has been filed immediately afterwards, then a judge would order his assets frozen pending the outcome of the original lawsuits, and order the divorce proceedings to take place after the civil suits are resolved and relevant parties awarded.



Would it be up to the attorneys in the civil suit to "discover" the divorce proceedings and ask for a freeze of assets? I'm wondering if the court system would even know there was a filing. In the city I assume that one department likely doesn't communicate much with another, unless there's some way to automatically flag someone's identification if there is a change in status. Just thinking that it would be possible to slip through the cracks.

Anyway, good discussion, thanks guys.

[DemonGeminiX]

Would it be up to the attorneys in the civil suit to "discover" the divorce proceedings and ask for a freeze of assets? I'm wondering if the court system would even know there was a filing. In the city I assume that one department likely doesn't communicate much with another, unless there's some way to automatically flag someone's identification if there is a change in status. Just thinking that it would be possible to slip through the cracks.

Anyway, good discussion, thanks guys.

For someone big like Baldwin? I doubt it would take much to discover what's going on. He's a highly visible individual who lives under the ever watchful and hungry media eye. Everyone would know about it as soon as it happened. If both the divorce and the civil suits are filed in the same district, I'm pretty sure it would be common knowledge in the court system. Even if it wasn't in the same district... hell even if it was on opposite coasts... with a high value target like Baldwin, if the judge doesn't already know then the plaintiffs would definitely know and would bring it to the judge's attention. The plaintiff's council could ask to freeze the assets, but I don't think it would be necessary. Unless Baldwin slipped the judge a kickback or something, I'm pretty sure the judge would know what the score was and would act accordingly without having to be asked.

[Pony]

Yea, Baldwins fucked, as he should be. But I was thinking more generic terms. I know it's straying a bit off topic.

[DemonGeminiX]

Yea, Baldwins fucked, as he should be. But I was thinking more generic terms. I know it's straying a bit off topic.

Well, considering Joe Nobody, assuming two lawsuits were in separate districts, then it might fly under the radar. But considering civil suits are all about the damages awarded, how much of a hard-on for hurting Joe Nobody would the plaintiffs have? If the plaintiffs have the ability and the drive, unless Joe is old-hat at this sorta thing and knows how to cover his bases effectively, then it's reasonable to assume that they could uncover some hijinks and relay it with actionable proof to their attorney(s), who in turn would notify the judge. Where it goes from there is the discretion of the court.

[Teh One Who Knocks]

By Virginia Kruta - The Daily Wire


https://i.imgur.com/jQ8yxq5l.jpg

Criminal charges may be on the way for actor Alec Baldwin, according to a report published Monday by entertainment website TMZ.

The report detailed several recent moves made by District Attorney Mary Carmack-Altwies that indicate she could be planning to prosecute the actor in connection with the fatal shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on the set of his film “Rust.”

According to The Santa Fe New Mexican, Carmack-Altwies filed an emergency request last week — asking the New Mexico Board of Finance for $635,000 to support “up to four possible criminal cases” that she indicated could arise out of the ongoing investigation into the shooting.

The state board approved half the requested amount, granting her $317,000 to assist in funding a special prosecutor, special investigator, experts and others. The prosecutor said that up to four people could face charges — although she also noted that they might not all be found criminally liable. “We will be requesting a special appropriation for the rest of the money,” she added.

“One of the possible defendants is well known movie actor Alec Baldwin,” Carmack-Altwies said. She did not name any other members of the cast or crew who may still be under investigation, but she did list a number of possible charges, saying that her office was “certainly looking at all the homicide statutes and any gun statutes under New Mexico criminal code.”

Carmack-Altwies stated that the requested funds would be used to finance up to four separate jury trials pursuant to the shooting that killed Hutchins and wounded director Joel Souza.

A full report from the Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office — based on the lengthy investigation — is expected to be released in the coming weeks.

The prosecutor did not say for certain that she intended to file criminal charges but wanted the funding in place before the report’s release in the event that prosecutions were deemed warranted.

“Experts in firearms, the handling of firearms on movie sets, and safety protocols on move sets must be retained immediately,” Carmack-Altwies explained in the request. “If the First Judicial District Attorney … were to take funding for the ‘RUST’ prosecution out of the general fund, there would not be enough funding to pay our employees, expert witnesses needed for other cases and general everyday expenses of the office.”

[lost in melb.]

Dream On. Too late ...

[DemonGeminiX]

Dream On. Too late ...

But not really. The statute of limitations hasn't run out yet, if they exist in the state at all.

[Teh One Who Knocks]

By Anthony D'Alessandro - Deadline


https://i.imgur.com/WtqcciQ.png

Rust Productions and its star and producer Alec Baldwin have reached a settlement with the estate of slain cinematographer Halyna Hutchins. As part of the peace, the DP’s husband Matthew Hutchins will executive produce Rust, which will return to production in January 2023 with the original cast.

The Hutchins family had filed a wrongful death lawsuit back on Feb. 15 over the shooting of the DP which occurred on Oct. 21, 2021 when Baldwin discharged a prop gun after being informed by the production AD David Halls that the weapon was “cold.”

“We have reached a settlement, subject to court approval, for our wrongful death case against the producers of Rust, including Alec Baldwin and Rust Movie Productions, LLC. As part of that settlement, our case will be dismissed,” said Matthew Hutchins this morning.

“The filming of Rust, which I will now executive produce, will resume with all the original principal players on board in January 2023,” added Hutchins.

“I have no interest in engaging in recriminations or attribution of blame (to the producers or Mr. Baldwin),” he added, “All of us believe Halyna’s death was a terrible accident. I am grateful that the producers and the entertainment community have come together to pay tribute to Halyna’s final work.”

Rust Movie Productions, LLC, through its attorney, Melina Spadone of Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman, said: “We are pleased the parties came together to resolve this matter, which, subject to court approval, marks an important step forward in celebrating Halyna’s life and honoring her work.”

Baldwin’s attorney, Luke Nikas of Quinn Emanuel, added: “Throughout this difficult process, everyone has maintained the specific desire to do what is best for Halyna’s son. We are grateful to everyone who contributed to the resolution of this tragic and painful situation.”

Later this AM, the Oscar nominated actor of The Cooler added this on Instagram, “We are pleased to announce today the settlement of the civil case filed on behalf of the family of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins. Throughout this difficult process, everyone has maintained the specific desire to do what is best for Halyna’s son. We are grateful to everyone who contributed to the resolution of this tragic and painful situation.”

CjVZ-9GO0z-

Joel Souza, Director of Rust, said: “Those of us who were lucky enough to have spent time with Halyna knew her to be exceedingly talented, kind, creative, and a source of incredible positive energy. I only wish the world had gotten to know her under different circumstances, as it surely would have through her amazing work. In my own attempts to heal, any decision to return to finish directing the film could only make sense for me if it was done with the involvement of Matt and the Hutchins family. Though certainly bittersweet, I am pleased that together, we will now complete what Halyna and I started. My every effort on this film will be devoted to honoring Halyna’s legacy and making her proud. It is a privilege to see this through on her behalf.”

The Hutchins original lawsuit in February read “Defendant Baldwin, the Producers, and the Rust Production Companies were aware of firearms safety issues that had occurred on the set of Rust and did not take action to correct the situation and ensure that basic gun safety rules were followed on October 21, 2021…Had Defendant Baldwin, the Producers, and the Rust Production Companies taken adequate precautions to ensure firearm safety on the set of Rust or if basic firearm safety rules had been followed on the set of Rust on October 21, 2021, Halyna Hutchins would be alive and well, hugging her husband and nine-year old son.”

Close to a year since the tragic incident occurred, the Santa Fe Sheriff’s Office has yet to charge anyone.

Last month, Deadline obtained a letter from Santa Fe District Attorney Mary Carmack-Altwies to the New Mexico Board of Finance requesting $635K to prosecute as many as four individuals with criminal and homicide charges related to the Rust tragedy (the DA was granted $317,750). The DA said in her letter that “one of the possible defendants is well known movie actor Alec Baldwin.” Nikas, speaking on behalf o Baldwin, responded to the DA’s letter “that it would be premature to discuss the case because they had not yet reviewed the file or deliberated about their charging decision.”

“It is irresponsible to report otherwise,” Nikas blasted at the time, “The DA has made clear that she has not received the sheriff’s report or made any decisions about who, if anyone, might be charged in this case.”

Nikas stated back in April that the Rust OSHA report “exonerates” Baldwin.

In an ABC news interview with George Stephanopoulos last December, Baldwin insisted he never actually pulled the trigger of the gun which took Hutchins’ life during a quick draw rehearsal move in a church location on the set of Rust.

Baldwin also told Stephanopoulos back in December, “I have been told by people who are in the know, in terms of even inside the state, that it’s highly unlikely that I would be charged with anything criminally.”

[lost in melb.]

There we go.

[lost in melb.]

But not really. The statute of limitations hasn't run out yet, if they exist in the state at all.

Would you care if he didn't lampoon Trump?

[PorkChopSandwiches]

Hes still a lib cunt anyway

[DemonGeminiX]

Would you care if he didn't lampoon Trump?

Yes.

[lost in melb.]

Hes still a lib cunt anyway

I wouldn't know. I'm not a follower [-(

[lost in melb.]

Yes.

:suspect:

[deebakes]

i'd say never release this film

[Teh One Who Knocks]

By Lauryn Overhultz | Fox News


https://i.imgur.com/iFPDXSH.png

It's been one year since cinematographer Halyna Hutchins was fatally shot on the set of "Rust" in New Mexico.

Halyna died when a gun Alec Baldwin was holding fired, while practicing a scene on the New Mexico movie set Oct. 21, 2021. The group had been rehearsing in a small church on the Bonanza Creek Ranch set.

Baldwin has maintained that he did not pull the trigger of the gun – once during a prime-time interview shortly after the shooting and again on a recent podcast episode. The actor originally said he had pulled the hammer of the gun back as far as he could and released it.

Here's a look at where the investigation stands after one year:

The investigation remains ongoing

The civil suit has been settled, but the criminal investigation into the "Rust" shooting is ongoing. The Santa Fe Sheriff's Department has been focused on how live ammo made it onto the set.

The department spent time interviewing all the witnesses involved, including Baldwin, armorer Hannah Gutierrez Reed and more. Additionally, the sheriff's department enlisted a few third parties to help.

The gun used in the shooting was sent to the FBI to be tested. The office released the FBI forensics report, which determined that the gun used in the fatal shooting "could not be made to fire without a pull of the trigger."

https://i.imgur.com/p9QVpJ2.png

The test showed that when the .45 Colt caliber F.lli Pietta single-action revolver's hammer was in the quarter and half-cock positions, the gun would not fire without the trigger being pulled. When the hammer was in the fully cocked position, the gun "could not be made to fire without a pull of the trigger while the working internal components were intact and functional."

The sheriff's office also received the New Mexico's Office of the Medical Investigator (OMI) report. The report ruled the "Rust" shooting an accident.

"The critical report is the one from the medical examiner, who concluded that this was a tragic accident," Baldwin attorney Luke Nikas told Fox News Digital. "This is the third time the New Mexico authorities have found that Alec Baldwin had no authority or knowledge of the allegedly unsafe conditions on the set, that he was told by the person in charge of safety on the set that the gun was ‘cold,’ and believed the gun was safe."

Once Alec Baldwin's cell phone records are obtained, and the official OMI and forensic reports are reviewed, the Santa Fe County Sheriff's investigative case will be sent to the district attorney for review and, ultimately, final charging decisions.

The Santa Fe Sheriff's Department is currently reviewing the case file for a final time, according to the office's spokesperson, Juan Rios.

"The Rust investigation case file is under final review by the sheriff’s office before it will be submitted to the Santa Fe district attorney," Rios told Fox News Digital. "We have no set date as to when this will occur. Beyond this information, our agency has no further comment."

Who could face charges?

https://i.imgur.com/WnaHzKS.png

New Mexico First Judicial District Attorney Mary Carmack-Altwies named Baldwin specifically in her request for emergency funding to prosecute the case. The DA further claimed she anticipates prosecuting up to four people who were on the set at Bonanza Creek Ranch.

"The ‘Rust’ prosecution could be potentially be prosecutions from one (1) to four (4) defendants," Carmack-Altwies wrote in paperwork filed for an emergency grant. "One of the possible defendants is well-known movie actor Alec Baldwin."

However, the decision about who will be criminally charged cannot be made until the DA has received the sheriff's department's final investigative report.

"The District Attorney is still awaiting the final report from the Santa Fe County Sheriff," the Santa Fe District Attorney’s office spokesperson, Heather, Brewer told Fox News Digital.

"Once the District Attorney receives the Santa Fe County Sheriff's full report, she and her team of professional attorneys and investigators can begin their careful review of all of the materials provided. As with any other case she handles, the District Attorney's focus will be on upholding the integrity of the process and ensuring that this investigation is held to the highest standards."

Civil lawsuit settled

https://i.imgur.com/6LVoYNu.png

A wrongful death lawsuit was filed against Alec Baldwin and other key members of the production on Feb. 15.

The lawsuit named Baldwin and others who "are responsible for the safety on the set" and called out "reckless behavior and cost-cutting" that led to the death of Hutchins, according to the family's lawyer.

Matthew Hutchins' attorneys interviewed witnesses before filing and created a video compiling evidence for the wrongful death lawsuit. In the video shared at a press conference, Matthew's lawyers reiterated claims from crew members that the "Rust" set was unsafe. The lawsuit claimed that Baldwin, who was also a producer on the film, and other "Rust" crew and cast committed "major breaches" of safety on the set.

The family sued for punitive damages and funeral and burial expenses among other things originally to be determined at trial.

However, on Oct. 5, Halyna's husband announced the civil lawsuit had been settled pending court approval.

"We have reached a settlement, subject to court approval, for our wrongful death case against the producers of ‘Rust,’ including Alec Baldwin and Rust Movie Productions, LLC. As part of that settlement, our case will be dismissed," Matthew Hutchins said in a statement to Fox News Digital through his attorney Brian Panish of Panish | Shea | Boyle | Ravipudi LLP.

"The filming of ‘Rust,’ which I will now executive produce, will resume with all the original principal players on board in January 2023. I have no interest in engaging in recriminations or attribution of blame (to the producers or Mr. Baldwin). All of us believe Halyna’s death was a terrible accident. I am grateful that the producers and the entertainment community have come together to pay tribute to Halyna’s final work."

Additionally, Baldwin released a statement regarding the resolution of the lawsuit on social media.

"We are pleased to announce today the settlement of the civil case filed on behalf of the family of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins," Baldwin captioned a screenshot of an article. "Throughout this difficult process, everyone has maintained the specific desire to do what is best for Halyna’s son. We are grateful to everyone who contributed to the resolution of this tragic and painful situation."

Filming of ‘Rust' will resume

https://i.imgur.com/ceWRLCc.png

As Matthew announced, "Rust" will resume filming in January 2023, and he revealed that he would be the executive producer.

The western film is now scouting locations but confirmed that the cast and crew will not return to New Mexico, where Halyna's death occurred.

"The production of ‘Rust’ will not return to New Mexico," Melina Spadone, attorney for Rust Movie Productions LLC, told Fox News Digital on Wednesday. "The production is considering other locations, including in California, but no decisions have been made."

Although it hasn't been confirmed whether Baldwin will re-join the production, Matthew's initial announcement claimed the production would resume with "original principal players."

[Teh One Who Knocks]

By Lauryn Overhultz | Fox News


https://i.imgur.com/SVEK7ql.png

Alec Baldwin was charged with two counts of involuntary manslaughter in the death of Halyna Hutchins.

Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, who was the armorer on the film ‘Rust,’ was also charged with two counts of involuntary manslaughter.

Halyna's family thanked the sheriff's office and the DA after the charges were announced.

"We want to thank the Santa Fe Sheriff and the District Attorney for concluding their thorough investigation and determining that charges for involuntary manslaughter are warranted for the killing of Halyna Hutchins with conscious disregard for human life," a statement issued on behalf of the Hutchins Family via attorney Brian J. Panish, Founding Partner of Panish | Shea | Boyle | Ravipudi LLP.

"Our independent investigation also supports charges are warranted. It is a comfort to the family that, in New Mexico, no one is above the law. We support the charges, will fully cooperate with this prosecution, and fervently hope the justice system works to protect the public and hold accountable those who break the law."

New Mexico First Judicial District Attorney Mary Carmack-Altwies announced the charges Thursday morning, more than a year after Hutchins' tragic death.

Assistant director Dave Halls signed a plea agreement for a charge of negligent use of a deadly weapon. The terms of his agreement included a suspended sentence and six months of probation, the district attorney announced.

No charges were filed in the non-fatal shooting of director Joel Souza.

"After a thorough review of the evidence and the laws of the state of New Mexico, I have determined that there is sufficient evidence to file criminal charges against Alec Baldwin and other members of the ‘Rust’ film crew," New Mexico First Judicial District Attorney Mary Carmack-Altwies said in a statement. "On my watch, no one is above the law, and everyone deserves justice."

The district attorney explained that Baldwin and Gutierrez-Reed were "charged in the alternative." This means that a jury will decide not only if the two are guilty but will also decide which definition of involuntary manslaughter their actions fall under.

"If any one of these three people – Alec Baldwin, Hannah Gutierrez-Reed or David Halls – had done their job, Halyna Hutchins would be alive today. It’s that simple," Andrea Reeb, the special prosecutor appointed by the DA to the case, said in a statement. "The evidence clearly shows a pattern of criminal disregard for safety on the ‘Rust’ film set. In New Mexico, there is no room for film sets that don’t take our state’s commitment to gun safety and public safety seriously."

Before announcing the decision, the district attorney's office spent time reviewing a comprehensive report submitted by the Santa Fe County Sheriff's Office.

It's been over a year since the cinematographer was killed on the New Mexico movie set.

https://i.imgur.com/42wRzOC.png

Halyna died when a gun Alec Baldwin was holding fired, while practicing a scene on Oct. 21, 2021. The group had been rehearsing in a small church on the Bonanza Creek Ranch set.

The Santa Fe County Sheriff's Department has spent the last year investigating how live rounds made it onto the movie set. Armorer Hannah Guiterrez-Reed and assistant director Dave Halls were the only other crew members believed to have handled the gun that fired on set.

"Never in a million years did Hannah think that live rounds could have been in the ‘dummy’ round box," one of Guiterrez-Reed's attorneys, Jason Bowles, said in a statement shared with Fox News shortly after the fatal accident. "Who put those in there and why is the central question."

Halls allegedly handed Baldwin a .45 revolver, telling him that it was "cold," or safe. Prior to that, Gutierrez-Reed spun the cylinder to show Halls what was in the gun, her lawyer said.

Baldwin has maintained that he did not pull the trigger of the gun – once during a prime-time interview shortly following the deadly shooting and again on a podcast episode. The actor originally said he had pulled the hammer of the gun back as far as he could and released it, but did not pull the trigger.

Carmack-Altwies named Baldwin specifically in her request for emergency funding to prosecute the case. The DA explained that she anticipated prosecuting up to four individuals –possibly including Baldwin.

"The ‘Rust’ prosecution could be potentially be prosecutions from one (1) to four (4) defendants," Carmack-Altwies wrote in paperwork filed for an emergency grant. "One of the possible defendants is well-known movie actor Alec Baldwin."

A wrongful death lawsuit was filed against Alec Baldwin and other key members of the production on Feb. 15, 2022.

The lawsuit named Baldwin and others who "are responsible for the safety on the set" and called out "reckless behavior and cost-cutting" that led to the death of Hutchins, according to the family's lawyer.

Matthew Hutchins' attorneys interviewed witnesses before filing and created a video compiling evidence for the wrongful death lawsuit. In the video shared at a press conference, Matthew's lawyers reiterated claims from crew members that the "Rust" set was unsafe. The lawsuit claimed that Baldwin, who was also a producer on the film, and other "Rust" crew and cast committed "major breaches" of safety on the set.

The cinematographer's family sued for punitive damages and funeral and burial expenses among other things originally to be determined at trial. However, on Oct. 5, Halyna's husband announced the civil lawsuit had been settled pending court approval.

https://i.imgur.com/iofIV2P.png

Following the conclusion of the civil lawsuit, Matthew revealed that filming of "Rust" would continue in January 2023. The western film will not return to New Mexico, where Halyna's death occurred.

"The production of ‘Rust’ will not return to New Mexico," Melina Spadone, attorney for Rust Movie Productions LLC, told Fox News Digital. "The production is considering other locations, including in California, but no decisions have been made."

Although it hasn't been confirmed whether Baldwin will re-join the production, Matthew's initial announcement claimed the production would resume with "original principal players."

[lost in melb.]

Let's see what kind of justice money and fame can buy.

[Teh One Who Knocks]

Hannah Nightingale - The Post Millennial


https://i.imgur.com/2Y3d90C.png

It has been revealed that the charges against Alec Baldwin and Rust set armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed for the fatal shooting death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins were downgraded, dropping the potential five-year prison sentence for the pair.

The Santa Fe District Attorney’s Office formally downgraded the second of the two charges, which included a firearm enhancement, issued to Baldwin and Gutierrez-Reed on Friday, according to the Hollywood Reporter.

Lawyers for the two argued in a motion filed earlier this month that the charge was based on a New Mexico law passed after Hutchins’ death on the movie set in October of 2021.

Both Baldwin and Gutierrez-Reed still face involuntary manslaughter charges, but the removal of the firearm enhancement on the second charge removes the possibility of a five-year prison sentence.

They still face up to 18 months in prison.

"In order to avoid further litigious distractions by Mr. Baldwin and his attorneys, the District Attorney and the special prosecutor have removed the firearm enhancement to the involuntary manslaughter charges in the death of Halyna Hutchins on the Rust film set," said Heather Brewer, spokesperson for the New Mexico First Judicial District Attorney, in a statement obtained by The Hollywood Reporter.

"The prosecution’s priority is securing justice, not securing billable hours for big-city attorneys," she added.

Jason Bowles, lawyer for Gutierrez-Reed, said that the armorer’s legal team "applaud(s) the decision by the District Attorney and it was the right call, ethically, and on the merits."

On January 31, the two were formally charged with the Rust set shooting death of Hutchins.

In a statement from New Mexico First Judicial District Attorney Mary Carmack-Altwies announcing her office’s intent on filing charges, she said that "a thorough review of the evidence and the laws of the state of New Mexico" determined that there is sufficient evidence to file criminal charges against Alec Baldwin and other members of the ‘Rust’ film crew."

"If any one of these three people—Alec Baldwin, Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, or David Halls—had done their job, Halyna Hutchins would be alive today. It’s that simple," said Andrea Reeb, the special prosecutor appointed by the DA to the case. "The evidence clearly shows a pattern of criminal disregard for safety on the ‘Rust’ film set. In New Mexico, there is no room for film sets that don’t take our state’s commitment to gun safety and public safety seriously."

Assistant Director David Hall signed a plea agreement for the charge of negligent use of a deadly weapon, with the terms including a suspended sentence and six months probation.

[PorkChopSandwiches]

I was hoping he would get the 5 years

[DemonGeminiX]

I'll be surprised if he gets any hard time at all.

[Teh One Who Knocks]

By Aaron Katersky - ABC News


Charges against Alec Baldwin have been dropped in the fatal on-set "Rust" shooting, according to sources familiar with the matter.

Baldwin, 65, had been charged with two counts of involuntary manslaughter after fatally shooting cinematographer Halyna Hutchins, 42, on the New Mexico set of the Western in October 2021.

This is a developing story.

[DemonGeminiX]

Of course.

[lost in melb.]

Lol

[PorkChopSandwiches]

i would be suing his ass in civil if i was the family

[Teh One Who Knocks]

By Snejana Farberov - New York Post


https://i.imgur.com/Tkqa1Pj.png

Alec Baldwin could be charged again in the fatal shooting of “Rust” cinematographer Halyna Hutchins after a bombshell new gun analysis concluded that the trigger was pulled — despite the actor’s repeated denials.

Experts in ballistics and forensic testing based in Arizona and New Mexico on Tuesday released a report examining the Colt .45 revolver used on set and markings it left on a spent cartridge.

The analysis found that the trigger had to have been either pulled or depressed.

“Although Alec Baldwin repeatedly denies pulling the trigger, given the tests, findings and observations reported here, the trigger had to be pulled or depressed sufficiently to release the fully cocked or retracted hammer of the evidence revolver,” reads the report led by Lucien Haag of Forensic Science Services in Arizona.

“This fatal incident was the consequence of the hammer being manually retracted to its fully rearward and cocked position followed, at some point, by the pull or rearward depression of the trigger,” the experts continued.

https://i.imgur.com/z48KFXq.png

The analysts relied on replacement parts to reassemble the gun, pieces of which were broken during earlier testing by the FBI.

New Mexico special prosecutor Kari Morrissey handling the “Rust” case said in an email Tuesday that a formal announcement on whether to refile any charges against Baldwin is pending but did not give a timeline.

Baldwin, 65, has maintained that the revolver discharged accidentally after he followed instructions to point it toward Hutchins, who was behind the camera during rehearsal while filming the low-budget Western.

https://i.imgur.com/H2Akp2X.png

https://i.imgur.com/mo7r3ZT.png

Baldwin insisted that he pulled back the hammer — but not the trigger — and the Colt fired, fatally striking Hutchins on Oct. 21, 2021, at a movie ranch on the outskirts of Santa Fe.

Special prosecutors dropped an involuntary manslaughter charge against Baldwin in April without prejudice, citing information that the revolver might have been modified before the shooting and malfunctioned.

They commissioned the new analysis of the gun, along with other weapons and ammunition from the set of “Rust,” and wrote in a June court filing that Baldwin could still face charges.

[PorkChopSandwiches]

So weird, since that is exactly how guns work.

[Teh One Who Knocks]

So weird, since that is exactly how guns work.

No, no, no, no, you obviously don't understand guns. He pointed the gun and it automatically went off just by magic or something [-(

[lost in melb.]

:facepalm: