Alec Baldwin's 'prop firearm' kills one, injures another

Sheriff's office: Alec Baldwin discharged prop gun that killed crew member, wounded director

Baldwin is one of the film's star actors and producers. He went to the sheriff's office willingly and provided a statement to investigators, sheriff's office spokesman Juan Ríos said.

www.santafenewmexican.com

archive.md/jNQZQ

Actor Alec Baldwin discharged a "prop firearm" that killed a cinematographer and injured a the director of the movie Rust, being filmed on a set south of Santa Fe, a county sheriff's office spokesman said late Thursday.

Halyna Hutchins, 42 and the director of photography for the movie, died at University of New Mexico Hospital in Albuquerque. The film's director, Joel Souza, was hospitalized in Santa Fe, Santa Fe County Sheriff's Office spokesman Juan Ríos said.

A source closed to the investigation said Baldwin, 63, was questioned by investigators late Thursday and was seen by a New Mexican reporter and photographer in tears.

Investigators are still trying to determine if the incident was an accident, Ríos said. No charges have been filed, and the investigation remains open, Ríos wrote in a news release.

The prop was fired at Bonanza Creek Ranch, where filming was underway, the sheriff's office said in an early evening news release. Baldwin stars in the production.

Hutchins died from her injuries after she was flown to University of New Mexico Hospital, according to the sheriff's office. Souza was taken to Christus St. Vincent Regional Medical Center, where he is receiving emergency care, the sheriff's office said. Attempts to get comment from Baldwin were unsuccessful.

“We received the devastating news this evening, that one of our members, Halyna Hutchins, the Director of Photography on a production called ‘Rust’ in New Mexico died from injuries sustained on the set,” John Lindley, the president of the International Cinematographers Guild Local 600, and Rebecca Rhine, the executive director, said in a statement, as reported by Variety. “The details are unclear at this moment, but we are working to learn more, and we support a full investigation into this tragic event. This is a terrible loss, and we mourn the passing of a member of our Guild’s family.”

Deputies were investigating how the accident occurred and "what type of projectile was discharged," the sheriff's office said in an earlier news release.

Rust Movie Productions did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Filming for Rust was set to continue into early November, according to a news release from the New Mexico Film Office. It's described as the story of a 13-year-old boy left to fend for himself and his younger brother following the death of their parents in 1880s Kansas, with New Mexico doubling for Kansas.

Guns firing blanks have been blamed for deaths in past movie productions. Online Hollywood news site Deadline reported, "Actor Jon-Erik Hexum was killed Oct. 18, 1984, on the set of the TV series Cover Up when he accidentally shot himself in the head with a gun loaded with blanks. And in 1993, Brandon Lee, the son of martial arts legend Bruce Lee, died after he was shot in the head by a gun firing blanks on the set of The Crow. Both incidents were determined to have been accidents."

This is a developing story and will be updated.

 

[Iron Jaguar]

TBH, this is my real interest in the thread:

 

[East_Clintwood]

So I recently did one of my semi-regular checkups on the case. Still no movement on the criminal side as the DA continues to be late and super gay. Couple of minor things on the civil side though.

Firstly the propmaster is asking to be dismissed on jurisdictional grounds since the case is in LA and she neither lives nor works there:

‘Rust’ Prop Master Seeks Dismissal From Alec Baldwin’s Countersuit Ov…

archived 20 Dec 2022 19:34:04 UTC

archive.ph

More interestingly the Assistant Director who handed the gun to Baldwin, and allegedly told him it was cold, has counter-sued basically everyone else arguing he dindu nuffin:

‘Rust’ Assistant Director Countersues Alec Baldwin – NBC Los Angeles

archived 20 Dec 2022 19:38:19 UTC

archive.ph

Honestly this shit is gonna be wild when/if it ever gets to depositions and discovery and shit because at this point it's straight up becoming the legal equivalent of the pointing spiderman meme.

 

[kcbbq]

One year and two months later, Alec Baldwin's guns have still killed more people than Dick Cheney's. C'mon Dick! You can do it.

 

[kcbbq]

"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."

https://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/decision-charges-fatal-rust-shooting-to-be-announced-thursday-district-attorney-says

IWANTTOBELIEVE.JPG

 

[William Tyndale]

One year and two months later, Alec Baldwin's guns have still killed more people than Dick Cheney's. C'mon Dick! You can do it.

Many orphan civilians in Iraq would take umbrage with this comment.

 

[kcbbq]

Many orphan civilians in Iraq would take umbrage with this comment.

*people

 

[kcbbq]

Involuntary manslaughter. Maybe justice will be done.

Alec Baldwin hit with involuntary manslaughter in death of Halyna Hutchins, facing up to 18 months in prison

Alec Baldwin will be charged with involuntary manslaughter in the death of Halyna Hutchins. The cinematographer died after a gun Baldwin was holding fired on the set of "Rust."

www.foxnews.com

 

[Cpl. Long Dong Silver]

The armorer deserves the most punishment

 

[soy_king]

@kcbbq justice being done? don't make me laugh. NMs penalty for involuntary manslaughter is up to 18 months and probation.

New Mexico Involuntary Manslaughter Law - FindLaw.com

In New Mexico, manslaughter is the unlawful killing of a human being without malice. In contrast, murder is the killing of another human being through a willful, deliberate, and premeditated act. The crime of manslaughter is divided between voluntary manslaughter and involuntary manslaughter.

www.findlaw.com

In any case, the fact that the prosecution isn't going for multiple serious charges in the hopes of getting either a plea deal or having even a lesser charge stick shows that they're treating this with kid gloves, and that's not including the fact that Baldwin likely hired top tier criminal defense attorneys.

 

[Cpl. Long Dong Silver]

I wouldn't get your hopes too high unfortunately. Aside from him being a rich celeb, the most likely charge he'll catch (involuntary manslaughter) only carries a max of 18 months anyway. That being said I'm hoping all his kvetching about how it's totally not his fault, and how he'd definitely never pull the trigger while pointing a gun at someone, lands him a couple of months at the very least.

*EDIT* Forgot to mention, Andrew Branca aka Law of Self Defense apparently did a private stream for members of his site where they discussed the possibility of Alec catching a proper felony murder charge. Unfortunately didn't get to see it so IDK the logic, or what he thinks would be necessary but honestly I don't see any scenario where it happens, as much as I would enjoy it.

Can you give me tonight's lottery numbers?

 

[Frank_Jaeger]

Does this mean @menotaur will make good on his promise to leave for six months?

 

[kcbbq]

@kcbbq justice being done? don't make me laugh. NMs penalty for involuntary manslaughter is up to 18 months and probation.

New Mexico Involuntary Manslaughter Law - FindLaw.com

In New Mexico, manslaughter is the unlawful killing of a human being without malice. In contrast, murder is the killing of another human being through a willful, deliberate, and premeditated act. The crime of manslaughter is divided between voluntary manslaughter and involuntary manslaughter.

www.findlaw.com

In any case, the fact that the prosecution isn't going for multiple serious charges in the hopes of getting either a plea deal or having even a lesser charge stick shows that they're treating this with kid gloves, and that's not including the fact that Baldwin likely hired top tier criminal defense attorneys.

It's not a murder. I may have a hate bones for Baldwin, but it's the right charge, though the AD has already pled down his charges and got 6 months probation. It was a blatantly preventable accident, but it was still an accident and even a plea from Baldwin means he has to admit to the world he was a bad boy and the damage to that giant ego is the best punishment if that comes around.

What I think came back and bit Baldwin is his "well ackchually" over not pulling the trigger, just pulling the hammer back all the way and releasing it.

Production company was hit with what I think was the maximum possible fine.

 

[Foghorns at a Funeral]

It's not a murder. I may have a hate bones for Baldwin, but it's the right charge, though the AD has already pled down his charges and got 6 months probation. It was a blatantly preventable accident, but it was still an accident and even a plea from Baldwin means he has to admit to the world he was a bad boy and the damage to that giant ego is the best punishment if that comes around.

What I think came back and bit Baldwin is his "well ackchually" over not pulling the trigger, just pulling the hammer back all the way and releasing it.

Production company was hit with what I think was the maximum possible fine.

I agree, but he is never going to see the inside of a jail even for a month. So no mutts law. It will be a fine, plus court costs and community service he can buy his way out of doing. Peanuts to him, but what will really hurt is the words convicted felon next to his name.

 

[Niggergante]

Involuntary manslaughter. Maybe justice will be done.

Alec Baldwin hit with involuntary manslaughter in death of Halyna Hutchins, facing up to 18 months in prison

Alec Baldwin will be charged with involuntary manslaughter in the death of Halyna Hutchins. The cinematographer died after a gun Baldwin was holding fired on the set of "Rust."

www.foxnews.com

Good. The armorer should get the same.
This whole shitshow has me riled up because my cousin is very deeply involved in theater and film (although not in anything famous or big) and says that he should get off because he was under the assumption that it was cleared as safe, yet if I, an insignificant goy, were to do the same I'd be jailed for life. There's this disconnect in that field that seems to think that you're not responsible for anything you do if it's on a set and I just don't get it.

 

[he who has thus come/gone]

He'll probably plea down to a misdemeanor, but I hope he doesn't escape felon status even if he gets no prison time. It'll be his just desserts if the man who prodded along Trump derangement gets his voting rights stripped away.

 

[Sugriva]

Good. The armorer should get the same.
This whole shitshow has me riled up because my cousin is very deeply involved in theater and film (although not in anything famous or big) and says that he should get off because he was under the assumption that it was cleared as safe, yet if I, an insignificant goy, were to do the same I'd be jailed for life. There's this disconnect in that field that seems to think that you're not responsible for anything you do if it's on a set and I just don't get it.

I'm being optimistic, but I hope these charges do stick and it changes the way Hollywood handles gun safety. It doesn't matter if someone else cleared the gun for you, you should be personally inspecting it yourself before pointing it at someone and firing.

 

[Meat Target]

It'll be his just desserts if the man who prodded along Trump derangement gets his voting rights stripped away.

He has enough Fuck You money to make that go away.

 

[Niggergante]

I'm being optimistic, but I hope these charges do stick and it changes the way Hollywood handles gun safety. It doesn't matter if someone else cleared the gun for you, you should be personally inspecting it yourself before pointing it at someone and firing.

Honestly that's the part I find funniest about this shitfest. Baldwin is a huge anti gun activist and then ends up killing someone with a gun. Many such cases!

 

[get_ur_gamon]

NGL, Baldwin's comedy is shite but I don't think he deserves these charges. The entire studio put their faith in specialists to handle the prop guns. Both the victims signed off on both those elements. The armorer ought to go away for a long fucking time though.

 

[Paul Pelosi's Boyfriend]

The problem is that Alec Baldwin was just following established protocol on set, which was to do whatever the fuck you wanted with the guns because the armorer was incompetent. Probably going to prison.

Still though, involuntary manslaughter isn't exactly a murder charge and he may have crossed a legal threshold with his negligence. The burdon on the prosecution isn't going to be as heavy as it would be with a more serious charge. My prediction is community service and a fine.