In a recent development in the ongoing legal saga surrounding the tragic shooting incident on the set of the film “Rust” in October 2021, a new report has emerged suggesting that Alec Baldwin, despite his denials, had pulled the trigger of the gun that led to the death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins. The incident ignited a series of legal proceedings, with a primary focus on finding justice for Hutchins.
The independent forensic firearm experts, Lucien Haag and Mike Haag, commissioned by the prosecution, presented their findings. They concluded that based on tests and observations, the trigger had to be manually pulled or depressed for the gun to fire. Their report emphasized, “This fatal incident was the consequence of the hammer being manually retracted to its fully rearward and cocked position followed, at some point, by the pull or rearward depression of the trigger.”
While involuntary manslaughter charges against Baldwin were dismissed in April, citing a possible malfunction of the gun, the charges could be refiled if the gun’s functionality was found to be intact. The firearm in question, along with its broken sear, was sent for further testing by the state’s independent expert. Special prosecutor Kari Morrissey indicated that the possibility of new charges against Baldwin is under consideration.
The report by the special prosecutors’ experts echoes findings from a previous FBI forensics analysis released in August 2022. The FBI’s accidental discharge test revealed that the gun “could not be made to fire without a pull of the trigger.” The test indicated that the gun’s internal components needed to be intact and functional for the trigger to be effective.
Throughout the investigation and subsequent legal proceedings, Baldwin has consistently maintained his innocence, insisting that he did not pull the trigger of the gun. He described the moment of the incident during an interview, stating, “I let go of the hammer of the gun, and the gun goes off.” Baldwin explained that the gun was not intended to be fired from that angle and was supposed to be empty.
As the legal process unfolds, questions linger regarding the evidence’s integrity, given the firearm was reconstructed with new parts for testing. While the new report has strengthened the prosecution’s case, legal experts suggest that it might not be sufficient to recharge Baldwin. The intricate details of the investigation continue to be evaluated by legal professionals, setting the stage for further legal proceedings and potential decisions in the future.
