Prosecutors Allege Alec Baldwin’s ‘Shouting & Cursing’ Contributed To Safety Lapses On ‘Rust’ Film Set Resulting In Death

Special prosecutors in New Mexico have put forth a new legal filing that asserts that actor Alec Baldwin‘s behavior on the movie set of Rust played a role in safety compromises that ultimately led to the tragic shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins in 2021.

The prosecution team submitted the filing on Friday in response to a motion filed by Baldwin’s legal team in March to dismiss the charges against the actor.

According to the response, prosecutors contend that Baldwin has provided inconsistent accounts of the shooting incident and had “absolutely no control of his own emotions” while on set. The filing further states that in his initial days of filming, Baldwin demanded an accelerated pace from the crew and armorer Hannah Gutierrez Reed, which resulted in a “relentless rushing of the crew” and a routine compromise of safety measures.

The filing alleges that Baldwin frequently shouted and cursed at crew members, either directed at individuals or no one in particular, demonstrating a lack of concern for the impact of his conduct on those around him. Witnesses have reportedly testified that such behavior from Baldwin contributed to safety lapses on the set.

A representative for Baldwin declined to comment on the new filing.

Baldwin pleaded not guilty to an involuntary manslaughter charge in January about the shooting incident, which resulted in the death of Hutchins and injured director Joel Souza when a gun held by Baldwin discharged a live round during a scene rehearsal for the western film.

Gutierrez Reed, responsible for firearm safety and storage on the set, was found guilty of involuntary manslaughter in March. She now faces a potential sentence of up to 18 months in prison and a $5,000 fine.

The filing also claims that numerous crew members observed Gutierrez Reed’s lack of experience, and Baldwin, the film’s producer, failed to address these concerns. Gutierrez Reed’s negligence and inexperience, coupled with Baldwin’s alleged lack of regard for safety, resulted in Hutchins’s death.

Prosecutors further criticized Baldwin for his public statements after the incident and charged that he attempted to influence public opinion.

Baldwin’s lawyers strongly denounced the case against the actor in their previous filing. They argued that the prosecution had subjected Baldwin to unwarranted public scrutiny without considering the weight of the criminal charges looming over him for an extended period.