Alec Baldwin shooting: Lawsuit filed against actor over fatal shooting on set which killed Halyna Hutchins

Baldwin is being accused of “playing Russian roulette” by not checking the gun before firing the shot that killed cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on the set of Rust last month
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A crew member who worked on the Rust film set is suing actor Alec Baldwin over a fatal shooting which saw 42-year-old Halyna Hutchins lose her life.

Baldwin discharged a gun on the set of the western film on 21 October, killing the film’s cinematographer Hutchins and hospitlising director Joel Souza.

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Now Mamie Mitchell, the script supervisor who called 911 following the incident, is suing the actor and Rust’s producers.

At a glance: 5 key points

  • Local authorities were called to the set of Rust at around 2pm on 21 October after receiving a call about a shooting on set
  • Baldwin had accidentally shot Hutchins, who later died in hospital, with Souza also hospitalised due to injuries
  • It was believed that Baldwin had been told that the gun he was holding was “cold” before firing the fatal shot
  • Mitchell is now suing both Baldwin and the film’s producers after alleging that they had failed to follow safety protocols on set
  • Mitchell has accused Baldwin of playing “Russian roulette” by not checking the gun properly before firing it, describing his actions as reckless

Why is Alec Baldwin being sued?

Mitchell is alleging that Baldwin did not take the proper safety procedures to ensure that the gun was safe to fire before the incident.

Her lawyer, Gloria Allred, explained that Baldwin should not have trusted a gun handed to him by someone who was not the prop master or the film’s armourer.

The gun was allegedly handed to the actor by the assistant director, who it is believed shouted “cold gun” upon passing it to Baldwin.

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In a news conference, Mitchell’s lawyer said: “Mr Baldwin chose to play Russian roulette when he fired a gun without checking it and without having the armourer do so in his presence.

“His behaviour and that of the producers on Rust was reckless.”

Mamie Mitchell and her lawyer, Gloria Allred, present a lawsuit which she has filed against actor Alec Baldwin. (Credit: Getty)Mamie Mitchell and her lawyer, Gloria Allred, present a lawsuit which she has filed against actor Alec Baldwin. (Credit: Getty)
Mamie Mitchell and her lawyer, Gloria Allred, present a lawsuit which she has filed against actor Alec Baldwin. (Credit: Getty)

Her lawyer also claimed that various safety protocols were not followed, including allowing live ammunition onto the set, leaving weapons and ammunition unattended and having these handled by those not authorised.

She has also alleged that there was no rehearsal in progress when the gun was fired and that the scene in question did not include a gun.

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Mitchell, who was standing 4ft away from Hutchins when she was shot and was hit by residue, is seeking damaged from Baldwin and the films producers claiming assault, intentional infliction of emotional distress and deliberate infliction of harm.

She said: “I will never forget what happened on the set of Rust that day. I relive the shooting and the sound of the explosion from the gun over and over again.

“This violent tragedy has taken away the joy in my life.”

Mitchell’s lawsuit against Baldwin and producers is the second which has been filed, the first being filed by a friend of Hutchins who held her while she lay dying.

What have police said about the incident?

Police issued an update on 27 October saying that a “lead projectile” believed to be from the gun had been recovered from Souza’s shoulder, which they believed to be the bullet that hit Hutchins.

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They also said that around 500 rounds of ammunition had been recovered from the set. It was believed that this included a mix of dummy bullets, blanks and live rounds.

Police were told that following the shooting, assistant director David Halls had checked the gun and saw at least four of the five rounds were dummy bullets.

A prosecutor had previously warned that criminal charges for the incident may be possible.

Baldwin released a statement following the shooting, saying that his “heart is broken” over the death of Hutchins.

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