Baldwin Pleads Not Guilty in ‘Rust’ Manslaughter Charge

Yes, Alec Baldwin is back in the news again for the shooting on the set of the “Rust” movie.

The film was being made on a set in New Mexico when Baldwin’s gun went off, killing the cinematographer.

Baldwin has always claimed the gun simply went off, a near impossibility, but that did not stop him from pleading “not guilty” in the case.

I Didn’t Do It

If you have ever handled a revolver, you know it is just about impossible for the gun to go off on its own unless it is a perfect storm of circumstances, with odds that can hardly be calculated.

Baldwin admits to pulling back the hammer, but he says he never pulled the trigger, and the gun simply went off while he was holding it, aimed at the cinematographer.

During a 2021 interview with ABC News, Baldwin claimed, “Halyna and I had something profound in common, and that is that we both assumed the gun was empty … other than those dummy rounds.”

Assuming is something you never do with a gun, yet, that has been Baldwin’s stance from day one.

To that point, after being charged with involuntary manslaughter in the case, Baldwin pleaded not guilty to the charge.

Now, to be clear, if a revolver had a cocked hammer and it was dropped, the gun could go off, as has happened many times. However, the gun was in Baldwin’s hands the entire time.

When the gun was examined by Lucien and Michael Haag of Forensic Science Services in Arizona, they reported that “the trigger had to be pulled or depressed sufficiently to release the fully cocked or retracted hammer of the evidence revolver.”

“Rust” assistant director and safety coordinator David Halls took a plea deal, and he was given a suspended sentence and probation.

Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, the weapons supervisor for “Rust,” was also charged with involuntary manslaughter, and her trial has been scheduled to start on February 22.

I will take a shot here and say that Baldwin will watch that case closely and decide if he wants to take a deal or have his day in court based on how that case concludes.