ALL NEWS

Alec Baldwin sued by family of cinematographer killed on set

Feb 15, 2022, 2:13 PM

Brian Panish, left, an attorney for the family of late cinematographer Halyna Hutchins, speaks next...

Brian Panish, left, an attorney for the family of late cinematographer Halyna Hutchins, speaks next to a portrait of Hutchins at a news conference, Tuesday, Feb. 15, 2022, in Los Angeles. The family of Hutchins is suing Alec Baldwin and the movie producers of "Rust" for wrongful death, the attorneys said Tuesday. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)

(AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)

LOS ANGELES (AP) — The family of a cinematographer shot and killed on the set of the film “Rust” sued Alec Baldwin and the movie’s producers Tuesday for wrongful death.

Lawyers for the family of Halyna Hutchins announced the lawsuit filed in New Mexico in the name of Hutchins’ husband, Matthew Hutchins, and their son, Andros, at a Los Angeles news conference.

Related: Fatal mistake on movie set was live ammo, says Utah gun expert

At least four other lawsuits have been filed over the shooting, but this is the first directly tied to one of the two people shot.

The “reckless conduct and cost-cutting measures” of Baldwin and the film’s producers “led to the death of Halyna Hutchins,” attorney Brian Panish said. A video created by the attorneys showed an animated recreation of the shooting.

Baldwin, who was also a producer on the film, was pointing a gun at Hutchins during the setup for the filming of a scene for the western in New Mexico on Oct. 21 when it went off, killing Hutchins and wounding the director, Joel Souza.

Baldwin has said he was pointing the gun at Hutchins at her instruction and it went off without him pulling the trigger.

The attorneys said in the video that Baldwin had turned down training for the kind of gun draw he was doing when he shot Hutchins.

It said industry standards call for using a rubber or similar prop gun during the setup that was happening, and there was no call for a real gun.

Emails sent seeking comment from an attorney for Baldwin and a representative of the film’s other producers were not immediately returned.

Last month, nearly three months after the shooting, Baldwin turned over his cellphone to authorities in his home state of New York. They gathered information from the phone and provided it to Santa Fe County investigators, who had obtained a warrant for it.

Investigators have described “some complacency” in how weapons were handled on the “Rust” set. They have said it is too soon to determine whether charges will be filed.

Baldwin said he does not believe he will be criminally charged in the shooting.

The film’s script supervisor and its lead camera operator, both of whom were standing a few feet away when Hutchins was shot, each filed a lawsuit over the trauma they went through.

And the film’s armorer Hannah Gutierrez Reed, who was named as a defendant in those lawsuits and blamed by some for the shooting, filed her own suit saying an ammunition supplier created dangerous conditions by including live ammunition in a box that was supposed to include only dummy rounds.

In an interview with ABC News in December, Baldwin said he felt incredible sadness over the the shooting, but not guilt.

“Someone is responsible for what happened, and I can’t say who that is, but it’s not me,” Baldwin said.

He said Hutchins had asked him to point the gun just off camera and toward her armpit before it went off.

“I didn’t pull the trigger,” Baldwin said. “I would never point a gun at anyone and pull the trigger at them. Never.”

He called Hutchins “somebody who was loved by everybody and admired by everybody who worked with her.”

Hutchins, 42, grew up on a remote Soviet military base and worked on documentary films in Eastern Europe before studying film in Los Angeles and embarking on a promising movie-making career.

On her Instagram page, Hutchins identified herself as a “restless dreamer” and “adrenaline junkie.”

In a 2019 interview with American Cinematographer, which named her one of the year’s rising stars, she described herself as an “army brat” drawn to movies because “there wasn’t that much to do outside.” She would document herself parachuting and exploring caves, among other adventures, and through her work with British filmmakers, became “fascinated with storytelling based on real characters.”
___
Follow AP Entertainment Writer Andrew Dalton on Twitter: https://twitter.com/andyjamesdalton
___
This story has been updated to correct the spelling of attorney Brian Panish’s last name.

We want to hear from you.

Have a story idea or tip? Send it to the KSL NewsRadio team here.

All News

Cancers, once considered to be part of the aging process, are now showing up in much younger people...

Don Brinkerhoff

Early-Onset cancer rates rising for people ages 18 to 45

Early-onset cancer is showing up earlier and earlier in patients aged 18 to 49, and researchers aren't quite sure why.

6 hours ago

A 21-year-old man received "serious burns" after being shocked while working on fiber optic cables ...

Roy Burton

Man hospitalized with ‘serious burns’ after electric shock in Box Elder County

A 21-year-old man received "serious burns" after being shocked while working on fiber optic cables on telephone poles.

6 hours ago

Salt Lake Police Department are investigating a crash between a motorcycle and SUV, that led to cri...

Emma Keddington

Critical injury crash reported between motorcycle and SUV Downtown

SALT LAKE CITY — Salt Lake Police Department is investigating a crash in Central City, involving a motorcyclist and an SUV,  causing critical injuries to the motorcyclist.  The crash, taking place in a neighborhood around 350 South and 200 East, was reported at around 5:25 p.m. Monday, March 18.  The-28-year old motorcyclist was taken to […]

8 hours ago

cricket ball, cricket in us...

Jeff Caplan

Jeff Caplan’s Minute of News: The rise of cricket in the US

It’s not enough that we’re obsessed with Kate Middleton, but now the US is apparently embracing another British sport, cricket.

8 hours ago

A Logan police cruiser is pictured outside the department on Thursday, Nov. 14, 2019....

Jessica Lowell

Logan Police Department releases new arrest details

Logan Police Department said former officer Carlos Cubias has been part of a year long internal investigation after being accused of sexual abuse.

9 hours ago

tulips at tulip festival, spring in utah starts tomorrow...

Alexandrea Bonilla

Spring expected to be warmer this year in Utah and nationwide

Spring in Utah starts on March 19, with temperatures expected to be in the 60s for the Wasatch Front.

10 hours ago

Sponsored Articles

Mother and cute toddler child in a little fancy wooden cottage, reading a book, drinking tea and en...

Visit Bear Lake

How to find the best winter lodging in Bear Lake, Utah

Winter lodging in Bear Lake can be more limited than in the summer, but with some careful planning you can easily book your next winter trip.

Happy family in winter clothing at the ski resort, winter time, watching at mountains in front of t...

Visit Bear Lake

Ski more for less: Affordable ski resorts near Bear Lake, Utah

Plan your perfect ski getaway in Bear Lake this winter, with pristine slopes, affordable tickets, and breathtaking scenery.

front of the Butch Cassidy museum with a man in a cowboy hat standing in the doorway...

Bear Lake Convention and Visitors Bureau

Looking Back: The History of Bear Lake

The history of Bear Lake is full of fascinating stories. At over 250,000 years old, the lake has seen generations of people visit its shores.

silhouette of a family looking over a lake with a bird in the top corner flying...

Bear Lake Convention and Visitors Bureau

8 Fun Activities To Do in Bear Lake Without Getting in the Water

Bear Lake offers plenty of activities for the whole family to enjoy without having to get in the water. Catch 8 of our favorite activities.

Wellsville Mountains in the spring with a pond in the foreground...

Wasatch Property Management

Advantages of Renting Over Owning a Home

Renting allows you to enjoy luxury amenities and low maintenance without the long-term commitment and responsibilities of owning a home.

Clouds over a red rock vista in Hurricane, Utah...

Wasatch Property Management

Why Southern Utah is a Retirement Paradise

Retirement in southern Utah offers plenty of cultural and recreational opportunities. Find out all that this region has to offer.

Alec Baldwin sued by family of cinematographer killed on set