The weapons expert in the Alec Baldwin case was hungover on set, prosecutors say

According to prosecutors, the weapons supervisor involved in the Alec Baldwin case was allegedly under the influence while on the film set. They claim that she consumed alcohol and marijuana during the filming of “Rust,” implying that she was likely hungover when she mistakenly loaded a live bullet into the revolver used by the actor.

In response to a motion filed by Hannah Gutierrez-Reed’s attorneys seeking to dismiss her involuntary manslaughter charge, the prosecutors presented these allegations. They accused Gutierrez-Reed of a history of reckless behavior and argued that it is in the public’s interest for her to be held accountable.

Jason Bowles, Gutierrez-Reed’s lawyer, criticized the prosecution, stating that they mishandled the case. He claimed that the weak case led them to resort to character assassination tactics against Hannah, suggesting that the prosecution has abandoned the pursuit of justice and the truth.

A preliminary hearing for Gutierrez-Reed is scheduled for August, during which a judge will determine if there is enough evidence for the charges to proceed.

The prosecutors also mentioned that they would make a decision within the next 60 days regarding whether to recharge Alec Baldwin. This decision depends on the results of an analysis of the gun and its broken sear, which were sent to an independent expert for further testing.

Previously, Baldwin’s involuntary manslaughter charge was dismissed in April due to new evidence and the need for additional investigation. The incident occurred in October 2021 when Baldwin accidentally discharged a firearm, killing cinematographer Halyna Hutchins and injuring the film’s director, Joel Souza.

Gutierrez-Reed’s attorneys argued in their motion that the prosecution was influenced by improper political motives, accusing the Santa Fe District Attorney and the initial special prosecutor of using the tragic accident to further their personal interests.

The defense lawyers claimed that the FBI’s testing of the gun caused irreparable damage before the defense could examine it, resulting in the destruction of evidence and a violation of the court’s rules of discovery. They also alleged that the selective prosecution of Gutierrez-Reed violated the equal protection clause of the 14th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.

New special prosecutors who replaced the initial appointee refuted these claims, stating that the prosecution has not been selective. They acknowledged the unknown origin of the live rounds found on set and stated that the investigation was ongoing. They also hinted at the possibility of additional charges if evidence emerges suggesting Gutierrez-Reed’s responsibility, but did not provide specifics in the filing.

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