Alec Baldwin Files Lawsuit Against 'Rust' Crew Members Over Fatal Set Shooting
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The actor is accusing multiple 'Rust' crew members of negligence for giving him a loaded gun on set.
Alec Baldwin has filed a lawsuit against several people involved with the film Rust, after cinematographer Halyna Hutchins was fatally shot on set last year.
The 64-year-old actor—who was also named in a lawsuit for his alleged role in the shooting—filed a cross-complaint on Friday, Nov. 11, accusing multiple crew members of negligence for handing him the loaded gun that killed Hutchins and wounded director Joel Souza.
According to the New York Times, the suit specifically names the film's armorer, Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, who was in charge of handling guns and ammunition on set, as well as assistant director Dave Halls, who handed the weapon to Baldwin that day and called it a "cold gun," meaning it was safe to use. Sarah Zachry, the crew member in charge of props, is also listed as a defendant along with Seth Kenney, the film set's primary supplier of guns and ammunition.
“This tragedy happened because live bullets were delivered to the set and loaded into the gun,” Baldwin's lawyer, Luke Nikas, states in the lawsuit, per the Times.
As we know, Baldwin was holding the gun, a Colt .45 revolver that should have been loaded with dummy rounds, when it fired and passed a live bullet through Hutchins' body and hit Souza in the shoulder. Baldwin, who insists he never even pulled the trigger, is now claiming that it was the negligence of the aforementioned crew members on set that ultimately led to Hutchins' death.
“More than anyone else on that set, Baldwin has been wrongfully viewed as the perpetrator of this tragedy,” his attorney wrote, per NBC News. “By these Cross-Claims, Baldwin seeks to clear his name and hold Cross-Defendants accountable for their misconduct.”
The suit also claims that Baldwin has suffered "immense grief" as well as an "emotional, physical and financial toll" as a result of the tragedy.
Last month, it was revealed that Baldwin and other Rust producers settled the wrongful death lawsuit filed against them by Hutchins' family for an unspecified amount.
The settlement also outlined that the film will continue filming, with Hutchins' widower, Matthew Hutchins, serving as an executive producer.
In addition to the settling of the civil case, the Santa Fe County Sheriff's Office has since completed their criminal investigation, while local prosecutors are now debating whether or not to file charges against Baldwin or any members of the crew.
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