Alec Baldwin, a gunsmith previously charged with manslaughter in the Rust shooting.

January 31 (UPI) — Actor Alec Baldwin and his gunsmith are formally charged with manslaughter during a fatal shooting on the set of a movie. Rust who killed the cinematographer.

This was stated by the district attorney of Santa Fe. manslaughter charge Tuesday against Baldwin and his gunsmith Hannah Gutierrez-Reid, claiming the actor was not properly trained handle the gun that killed cinematographer Galina Hutchins because he was “distracted”.

“The evidence clearly indicates that Baldwin recklessly flouted these rules several times, leading to the fatal shooting,” the 10-page probable cause statement, which was filed with the allegations, said.

Hutchins was killed at the Bonanza Creek Ranch in New Mexico on October 21, 2021, when the rifle pistol Baldwin was holding was fired.

The indictment, released Tuesday, describes a series of “reckless acts or omissions” that led to the shooting. These include not using a replica firearm for an unscheduled rehearsal, allowing the gunsmith to leave the set, failing to complete required security checks, and failing to address on-set safety complaints.

Assistant director Rust, David Halls, handed over the gun to Baldwin before the shooting and faced a single count of negligent use of a deadly weapon. Halls is expected to serve a suspended sentence and six months of probation after signing a plea agreement.

In a probable cause statement, prosecutors allege that Baldwin was not properly trained in the use of weapons, stating that he was “distracted and constantly talking on his cell phone to his family” during an hour-long weapons training session.

“Had Baldwin conducted the mandatory security checks with the gunsmith and not pointed the gun at Hutchins, the tragedy would not have happened,” DA Special Investigator Robert Schilling wrote in a probable cause statement.

“Baldwin knew the first rule of gun safety is never point a gun at someone you don’t intend to shoot,” Schilling added. “This reckless deviation from known standards, practice and protocol directly caused the death.”

On January 19, the Santa Fe prosecutor’s office announced that Baldwin and Gutierrez-Reed would face charges.

“If even one of these three people – Alec Baldwin, Hannah Gutierrez-Reid or David Halls – had done their job, Halina Hutchins would be alive today. It’s that simple,” Special Prosecutor Andrea Rib said earlier this month. . “The evidence clearly shows a pattern of criminal disregard for security on Rust set. There’s no place in New Mexico for movie sets that don’t take our state’s commitment to gun safety and public safety seriously.”

According to a probable cause statement released Tuesday, “Reed knew Baldwin needed more training,” which “could have prevented the fatal shooting,” prosecutors said, citing Gutierrez-Reed’s statement in her testimony when she told prosecutors, that begged for production. provide additional training in the handling of weapons.

“The production told her to focus on props. Hannah asked Halls if they could use a plastic gun for the rehearsal scene and he said no, wanting a “real gun”. Hanna asked to be called back to the church if Baldwin was going to use the gun at all and Halls couldn’t do it,” lawyers for Gutierrez-Reed, Jason Bowles and Todd Bullion said. said in a statement.

Both Baldwin and Gutierrez-Reid face two counts of manslaughter each. The jury will decide which count is appropriate, and if found guilty, both will be convicted on only one count.

Lawyers for Baldwin and Gutierrez-Reed say they intend to challenge the charges in court.

If found guilty on both counts, Baldwin and Gutierrez-Reid face up to 18 months in prison and a $5,000 fine. Prosecutors say one of the charges relates to the improvement of firearms, which can be punished by up to five years in prison.

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