Baldwin’s film-set shooting ruled an accident by medical investigator

• Alec Baldwin was involved in a fatal shooting last year when a gun went off during the filming of a movie.
• New Mexico’s medical investigator ruled the shooting an accident after finding no “obvious intent to cause harm or death.”
• The report also found “no compelling demonstration” that the gun was intentionally loaded with live ammunition.

Last year, actor Alec Baldwin was involved in the fatal shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins while filming the Western movie “Rust” in New Mexico. On Monday, the state’s medical investigator ruled the shooting an accident.

The medical investigator’s office made the determination after completing an autopsy and reviewing law enforcement reports. The Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office published this report, along with the FBI’s investigation of the revolver and ammunition used.

On October 21, Baldwin and the crew were setting up a scene inside a small church. The actor was pointing a gun at Hutchins when it went off. The shot killed Hutchins and injured director Joel Souza.

In December, Baldwin stated in an interview with ABC News that he pointed the gun at Hutchins as she instructed. He said that the gun went off when he cocked it, but that he did not pull the trigger.

An FBI analysis of the revolver that Baldwin used suggested that the gun was in working order at the time, and would have only discharged if the trigger was pulled while fully cocked.

When the FBI tested the gun, “the only successful discharge” happened when parts of the trigger sear and cylinder stop fractured while the hammer was struck, allowing the hammer to fall and the gun to fire. The agency attributed the misfire to the fractured internal components, “not the failure of the firearm or safety mechanisms.”

The FBI report did not state the number of times the gun’s hammer was struck during testing.

The medical investigator ruled the shooting an accident after finding “no compelling demonstration” that the gun was intentionally loaded with live ammunition and “the absence of obvious intent to cause harm or death.”

Baldwin, who was also one of the movie producers, previously stated that the rehearsal should not have involved a loaded gun.

In April, New Mexico’s Occupational Health and Safety Bureau revealed a number of safety failures in violation of standard industry protocols.

According to the bureau, there had been two misfires on set prior to the fatal shooting. Crew members made gun safety complaints that were unheeded, while weapons specialists were not allowed important decisions on safety training.

Authorities seized live rounds in the film location, as well as blank and dummy cartridges.

Prosecutors have yet to decide if there will be charges filed after reviewing the latest reports and corresponding with Baldwin’s legal team.

Baldwin’s attorneys suggested that the latest report shows further proof that the actor should not face criminal charges since the shooting was “a tragic accident.”

Attorney Luke Nikas reiterated, “This is the third time the New Mexico authorities have found that Alec Baldwin had no authority or knowledge of the allegedly unsafe conditions on the set, that he was told by the person in charge of safety on the set that the gun was ‘cold,’ and believed the gun was safe.”

Source: Aol.com