Fellow ‘Rust’ Actor Douglas Stewart Says Alec Baldwin Is Innocent: “Actors Aren’t Responsible For Gun Safety”

Alec Baldwin

Yesterday, it was announced that famed actor Alec Baldwin, and armorer Hannah Gutierrez Reed, would be facing charges of two counts of involuntary manslaughter, after the accidental shooting and killing of 42-year-old cinemaphotographer Halyna Hutchins.

The two could face up to five years in prison if convicted.

The DA appointed prosecutor Andrea Reeb to the case.

Reeb said in a statement:

“If any one of these three people—Alec Baldwin, Hannah Gutierrez Reed or David Halls—had done their job, Halyna Hutchins would be alive today. It’s that simple.

The evidence clearly shows a pattern of criminal disregard for safety on the ‘Rust’ film set. In New Mexico, there is no room for film sets that don’t take our state’s commitment to gun safety and public safety seriously.”

However, Baldwin and his attorney Luke Nikas disagree with the charges, and remain that Baldwin is innocent, considering he had no idea that the gun was loaded, and thought it was only a prop gun:

“This decision distorts Halyna Hutchins’ tragic death and represents a terrible miscarriage of justice. Mr. Baldwin had no reason to believe there was a live bullet in the gun… or anywhere on the movie set.

He relied on the professionals with whom he worked, who assured him the gun did not have live rounds. We will fight these charges, and we will win.”

With that being said, a fellow actor who is a cast member for Rust agrees with Baldwin and Nikas, and is maintaining Baldwin’s innocence.

And the actor is Douglas Stewart, according to TMZ.

His reasoning is that actors aren’t responsible for gun safety. He admitted that whenever he’s been on set for a film, there’s always been strict procedures in place that state a stage manager or armorer is responsible for preparing and handing guns to actors, and that was the same for Rust.

He says that he’s never been allowed to check a gun or open the chamber, from TV, film, to stage play.

So, if that’s the case, then Baldwin is innocent of involuntary manslaughter, and may have a case for it when they go to trial.

However, Baldwin is an executive producer on the film, but Stewart says that he was not involved in safety measures, or day-to-day production hands on. He believes that Baldwin’s title was strictly about finances and his compensation.

So, I guess we’ll have to wait and see if Baldwin actually gets sentenced or not.

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