Actor Alec Baldwin, who accidentally killed a female filmmaker on a shoot, “played Russian roulette” by handling a gun without respecting safety rules in force in the film industry, according to a complaint filed against him Wednesday in Los Angeles.
Alec Baldwin accused of “played Russian roulette” with gun
Mamie Mitchell, employed as a script girl on the set of the western film Rust, where cinematographer Halyna Hutchins was fatally shot on Oct. 21, is the second member of the film crew to file a complaint against Alec Baldwin and the other producers.
Ms. Mitchell, who sought help immediately after the tragedy, says she suffers “emotional distress” and other ailments stemming from the harm “intentionally caused” by the production.
“The events that led to Mr. Baldwin firing a loaded gun do not constitute mere negligence,” the screenwriter’s attorney, Gloria Allred, said at a press conference in Los Angeles.
“To the contrary, from our perspective, Mr. Baldwin chose to play Russian roulette by triggering a gun without checking it and without the gunsmith having done so in his presence,” the lawyer argued.
Also in the crosshairs of the complaint are assistant director David Halls, who had handed the gun to Alec Baldwin telling him it was harmless, and the gunsmith on the shoot, Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, who was responsible for the firearms used by the crew.
The 24-year-old has repeatedly stated that she was unaware of the presence of live ammunition on the set.
That live ammunition was in the revolver wielded by Alec Baldwin while rehearsing a scene, and it killed Halyna Hutchins before ending up in the shoulder of the director, Joel Souza.
“Mr. Baldwin and the other experienced professionals knew that the gun in question should never have been handed to him by the assistant director,” but by the gunner on the set, Allred charged.
