July 11th 2024.
As the trial for Alec Baldwin's involuntary manslaughter charge continues, new footage has been revealed of the aftermath of the fatal shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on the set of the film Rust. The 66-year-old 30 Rock actor is facing charges for involuntary manslaughter after accidentally shooting Hutchins with a gun he was rehearsing with in October of 2021.
Baldwin had initially been charged with involuntary manslaughter in January of 2023, but pleaded not guilty and the charges were dismissed without prejudice a few months later. However, they were refiled a year later and his legal team expressed their eagerness to have their day in court. Now, that day has come and footage shown in court has shed light on what happened in the moments following the shooting.
According to reports, the gallery was visibly upset as they watched the footage, which also included Baldwin himself. The video showed medics rushing to help Hutchins before she was transferred to a stretcher and into an ambulance. The trial is set to last eight days, with the court first convening on July 10th. If convicted, Baldwin could face up to 18 months in prison.
Baldwin has maintained his innocence, stating that he was unaware the gun was loaded and that he did not pull the trigger. The film's director, Joel Souza, was also injured in the incident. Despite the tragedy, Baldwin returned to finish the film with Souza. While the actor claims he has struggled to find work since the shooting, Hutchins' family has expressed their desire to find out the truth about what happened and who is responsible.
The trial has also brought attention to the armorers on set, specifically Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, who was convicted earlier this year of involuntary manslaughter for mistakenly mixing up dummy bullets and live bullets on set. She was sentenced to 18 months in prison, the same term that Baldwin faces if he is convicted. Court documents state that Baldwin was handed the gun and told it was unloaded, but the prosecution argues that he was negligent in his handling of the gun, resulting in Hutchins being shot in the chest.
During the prosecution's opening statements, special prosecutor Erlinda Johnson emphasized that the film set was a real workplace for many people, and while it was a movie set, it was still a live workplace. She also noted that the set was on a tight budget and some of the crew members hired were inexperienced. She also stated that Baldwin had requested the biggest gun available and argued that various tests by the FBI concluded that the gun was in fine working order. However, the gun was damaged during the final test, making it impossible to examine its original condition.
Baldwin's lawyer, Alex Spiro, argued that his client committed no crime and was simply an actor doing his job. He also pointed out that the rules for handling firearms on a movie set are different and that the crew members who were responsible for gun safety had failed in their duties. Spiro also noted that real bullets should never be on a movie set and that the gun had been double-checked before being handed to Baldwin.
During the trial, police officer Nicholas Lefleur shared bodycam footage of his arrival on the scene, showing some of Hutchins' final moments. Spiro questioned Lefleur about Baldwin's behavior on set after the shooting, stating that he was patiently waiting and respectfully speaking to those around him. Spiro also asked why Lefleur responded with a "yes" when Baldwin asked about Hutchins, to which Lefleur replied that he had never seen that behavior before.
The jury also listened to a 911 call in which the caller stated that two people had been shot accidentally. The prosecution emphasized that the charge of involuntary manslaughter is not the same as intentional homicide, so whether the shooting was accidental or not is not the main question.
The trial continues as more evidence and testimony is presented. If you have a celebrity story, video, or pictures, please reach out to the entertainment team at The Agency. They can be contacted via email, phone, or by visiting their Submit Stuff page. They would love to hear from you.
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