American actor Alec Baldwin files a complaint against several members of the filming of the film Ruston which he killed cinematographer Halyna Hutchins in 2021, by handling a loaded revolver, a dramatic news item that shocked Hollywood.
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According to a court document dated Friday, the 64-year-old actor is suing filming gunsmith Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, production assistant David Halls, head prop Sarah Zachry, assistant gunsmith Seth Kenney as well as than the accessories company that the latter owns.
“This tragedy happened because live ammunition was delivered to the set and loaded into the gun, [Hannah] Gutierrez-Reed did not check the weapon carefully, but still announced that it was safe before passing it to [Alec] Baldwin”, details the complaint filed in a Los Angeles court.
The actor also accuses Sarah Zachry of not having revealed that the armourer had engaged in “irresponsible behavior off the set and posed a risk”.
On October 21, 2021, the filming of Rust on a ranch in Santa Fe [Nouveau-Mexique] turned tragic when Mr. Baldwin activated a weapon supposed to contain only blank bullets, but whose very real projectile fatally injured Halyna Hutchins, aged 42.
Alec Baldwin’s lawsuit comes amid lawsuits filed by scripter Mamie Mitchell against a slew of crew members, including the actor, whom she accuses of failing to follow safety procedures . She claims to have suffered significant emotional distress, standing close to Alec Baldwin when the gunshot went off.
In October, the actor reached an undisclosed settlement with Halyna Hutchins’ family. In the event of validation by a judge, it will put an end to the legal proceedings initiated in civil by the family of Mme Hutchins against Alec Baldwin who accused him of “dangerous behavior”.
She also denounced the cost-cutting measures decided by the producers of the film, including Mr. Baldwin, having according to them led to the death of the filmmaker.
An investigation in New Mexico remains ongoing and could lead to possible criminal charges.
Production on the film is set to resume in January 2023.