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Topics: US News, Alec Baldwin, no-article-matching
Shola Lee
Halyna Hutchins' family are said to be suing Alec Baldwin following the cinematographer's death on the set of Rust.
On October 21, 2021 Hutchins was killed on set after a gun Baldwin was holding discharged.
Today, February 15, it has been revealed that Hutchins' husband, Matthew Hutchins, will be suing Baldwin along with others involved in the incident.
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Hutchins was shot and killed while filming a scene at the Bonanza Creek Ranch. Baldwin was said to be holding the gun at the time but affirmed he did not pull the trigger.
Hutchins was shot in the torso and was rushed to a hospital in Albuquerque where she later died. Director Joel Souza was also injured in the incident.
The cinematographer was married to Matthew, with whom she shared a nine-year-old son.
Brian Panish, who represents Hutchins' estate, spoke about the upcoming lawsuit filled by Matthew.
He said: 'He lost his long-term wife who was the love of his life, and his son lost a mother' adding 'It never should have happened'.
The lawsuit is expected to go to trial within two years, which is considered fast for cases of this nature.
Randi McGinn, the estate’s attorney in Albuquerque, said of the case: 'We’re used to people coming in from out of town to play cowboy who don’t know how to use guns.
'You don’t hand somebody a gun until you give them safety training… No one should ever die with a real gun on a make-believe movie set'.
Along with Baldwin, the lawsuit names seven producers as defendants, in addition to crew members.
Despite the case being filed, no criminal charges have yet been brought and the incident is still under investigation.
Reportedly, the Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office are investigating how the live round of ammunition that fatally wounded Hutchins made it onto the film's set.
According to search warrants relating to the investigation, Reed Gutierrez loaded the gun with what she believed were dummy rounds of ammunition.
She then handed the gun to first assistant director Dave Halls who gave the gun to Baldwin. Halls is said to have stated it was a 'cold gun' while handing the weapon over.
In addition to Matthew's lawsuit, three crew members have also filled their own suits, including script supervisor Mamie Mitchell, Serge Svetnoy, the gaffer, and Cherlyn Schaefer, the key medic.
If you have experienced a bereavement and would like to speak with someone in confidence contact Cruse Bereavement Care via their national helpline on 0808 808 1677