Expert questions Alec Baldwin’s account of Rust shooting during film armorer’s trial | US News
An independent gun expert has raised doubt about Alec Baldwin’s version of events in the shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on the set of the film Rust.
Firearms expert Lucien Haag testified in court during the trial of the film’s armorer, Hannah Gutierrez, who faces charges of involuntary manslaughter and tampering with evidence.
Ms Hutchins died after a gun held by Baldwin discharged during rehearsals on the film set in New Mexico in October 2021.
Alec Baldwin, pictured on the set of Rust following the shooting, has not appeared in court for Hannah Gutierrez’s trial
The Hollywood star, also a producer on the film, has pleaded not guilty to a charge of involuntary manslaughter and will face a separate trial in July. He has previously stated that the gun discharged without him pulling the trigger and has not attended Gutierrez’s hearing.
An FBI expert testified on Monday that the revolver used by Baldwin on set was fully functional with safety features when tested in an FBI lab. The expert had to manipulate the gun to make it fire without the trigger being depressed.
Gutierrez says she has been made a scapegoat. Pic: Luis Sanchez Saturno/Santa Fe New Mexican/AP
The revolver involved in the Rust incident was presented in court. Pic: Eddie Moore/The Albuquerque Journal/AP
Jurors shown gun experimentation
Mr Haag demonstrated the workings of a Colt revolver, like Baldwin’s gun, and safety features that prevent it from firing without the trigger being depressed. He found no evidence of tampering before the FBI testing.
The jury watched a video of him testing Baldwin’s gun, showing the safety features in action each time the trigger was pulled back and released.
“If you’re trying to cock the gun and you lose your grasp on it, the hammer falls – that safety notch captures it,” Mr Haag said.
Gutierrez’s defense attorneys argue she was not at fault and that there were issues beyond her control on the Rust set. They claim she is being unfairly blamed.
Pictures of Halyna Hutchins, who died following the shooting, have been shown in court in New Mexico
How did live rounds get on set?
The jury also heard about the issue of live rounds being present on the set, a violation of industry rules for decades. Prosecutors claim Gutierrez brought live rounds unknowingly and failed to detect them.
Video evidence showed Gutierrez explaining that the live round came from an ammunition box provided by a props supplier, a statement contradicting the investigation findings.
Further investigation revealed no connection between the props supplier and the live ammunition found at the scene.
Baldwin has emphasized that gun safety is the responsibility of weapon handlers, not actors, although he is also a producer on the film.
Gutierrez’s trial is ongoing.
