Prop Master Sentenced to 1 Year and 6 Months in Jail, Alec Baldwin’s Concerns Over Impact on Film Following Misfire Incident – July Trial Looms

In 2021, during the filming of the Western movie “Rust” in New Mexico, USA, lead actor Alec Baldwin accidentally fired a prop gun containing a live round, which hit and killed cinematographer Halyna Hutchins. Baldwin is facing charges of involuntary manslaughter, and his trial is scheduled for July.

Baldwin gained attention for his role as Jack Ryan in “The Hunt for Red October” (1990) and received an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor for “The Cooler” (2003). He also won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series for his role in the TV drama “30 Rock” (2006-2013), establishing himself as a heavyweight actor in Hollywood.

In the same incident, on April 15 (local time), the federal court in the state sentenced armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, responsible for the prop weapons, to a prison term of one year and six months for involuntary manslaughter. It is believed that the verdict of the prop master, who was also charged with involuntary manslaughter, may have an impact on Baldwin’s trial.

According to the New York Post (online edition), Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer stated in court regarding defendant Reed,

“She turned a safe weapon into a lethal one. It constitutes a serious violent crime.”

The accidental shooting incident during the filming of the movie “Rust” occurred in October 2021 at a location in New Mexico, USA.

During a rehearsal on a church set, Baldwin discharged a prop gun, resulting in a live round being fired, striking and killing cinematographer Halyna Hutchins (then 42) who was nearby. The bullet that pierced her body also hit director Joel Souza, who was nearby, injuring his shoulder.

In an interview with ABC News, Baldwin stated:

“I didn’t know there was a live round in the gun.”

He claimed that Hutchins’ death was an accident and that he bore no responsibility. The staff argued that they should have ensured that the prop gun did not contain live ammunition and that it was properly loaded with blanks.

Additionally, Baldwin claimed that he did not pull the trigger and that the gun discharged on its own after he had released the pistol hammer.

Local prosecutors charged Baldwin and prop master Reed with involuntary manslaughter in March 2023, but dropped the charges against Baldwin in April of the same year, citing insufficient evidence, among other reasons.

However, in January of this year, prosecutors refiled charges against Baldwin for involuntary manslaughter, and his trial is scheduled for July. There is speculation that new evidence has emerged.

Furthermore, Baldwin not only starred in the film but also served as an executive producer, potentially making him responsible for the overall management of the film’s production. With the prop master receiving a prison sentence, there may be no room for optimism.

The shooting incident during the filming of a movie involving a Hollywood star has raised questions about how the jury will judge Baldwin’s involuntary manslaughter charges.