New evidence Baldwin was reckless with gun before 'Rust' shooting, prosecutors say

[sl8]

https://www.reuters.com/legal/new-evidence-baldwin-was-reckless-with-gun-before-rust-shooting-prosecutors-say-2024-06-19/

New evidence Baldwin was reckless with gun before 'Rust' shooting, prosecutors say

By Andrew Hay
June 19, 2024 5:53 PM EDT Updated 12 hours ago

June 19 (Reuters) - New evidence shows that Alec Baldwin was reckless with a revolver before the weapon fired a live round that killed "Rust" cinematographer Halyna Hutchins in 2021, prosecutors alleged ahead of the actor's July manslaughter trial.

The evidence, which includes images and video from crew and a set photographer, shows Baldwin pointed his gun at a crew member and fired a blank round, held his finger on the trigger when not supposed to and engaged in horseplay with the weapon, special state prosecutors said in a Monday filing, opens new tab.

[...]

Among apparently new evidence that prosecutors intend to show at the July 9 trial is an image by set photographer Karen Kuehn taken minutes before a 911 call on the shooting.
In the photo, Baldwin appears to have his finger inside the trigger guard and his thumb on the hammer, prosecutors Kari Morrissey and Erlinda Johnson said in the filing.

[...]

[elias7]

1. As far as he knew, he was brandishing a prop, not a weapon

This whole trial makes no sense, unless you don’t like Alec Baldwin. Take out the name Baldwin and stop applying real world gun safety standards to a make believe situation and the prosecution is senseless, IMO.

[jimfields33]

2. I'm sure he has a great defense team.

The jury will follow the evidence and make a judgment.

[Midnight Writer]

3. Right. It's like you take your car to the shop and they cut through your brake lines and don't tell you.

Are you therefore liable for the ensuing accident, or is the mechanic that didn't do the job?

[Jirel]

4. That is nonsensical for a working prop gun.

Rubber gun? No problem. Play with those all you want. However, this was not just a “prop.” It was a fully functional weapon that was supposed to be loaded only with blanks. By the way, you can kill yourself or someone with a blank - look up how Jon Erik Hexum and Brandon Lee died.

Regardless, that fully functional gun can be loaded with nothing, with blanks, or with real, deadly ammo. Nobody on a set should be playing with a gun that could potentially kill, any more than someone with a deer rifle or a handgun in their house should be playing with those even if they are certain the gun isn’t loaded. Gun safety is practiced for a reason. Halyna Hutchins’ death was yet more proof that gun safety applies everywhere. It doesn’t matter that the gun was only “supposed to” be loaded with blanks, or left unloaded. Obviously that’s not how it worked out that day, and that day could've been any day. It wasn’t “make believe.”

The only thing I agree with you here is that Baldwin shouldn’t be prosecuted. He was relying on someone else to appropriately load the gun. But should he be sued into the ground? Absolutely. He wasn’t just an actor - he was running the show. He had the responsibility to have a good crew that kept things safe. The armorer’s trial and discovery beforehand uncovered flagrant safety violations that were known by all. He could’ve stopped the shooting, had her replaced by a responsible armorer, etc. After the violations on set, there should have been a safety review by a well respected pro. That would’ve been a delay, but it need not have been long. It doesn’t take more than a day or two to check weapons and make sure there is no live ammo anywhere on set. It would’ve cost more, but cost control isn’t a valid reason to get someone hurt or killed. Those bad decisions were on him.