Alec Baldwin pulled the trigger on the gun that killed cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on the set of a Western film in New Mexico two years ago, a second expert analysis of the revolver has concluded.
Four months after involuntary manslaughter charges against Baldwin were dropped, the 65-year-old actor could face charges once again. (Related: D.A. says criminal charges possible in shooting on Alec Baldwin movie set.)
Experts in ballistics and forensic testing based in Arizona and New Mexico used replacement parts to reassemble the Colt .45 fired by Baldwin. Parts of the pistol were broken during earlier testing by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
After examining the gun and the markings it left on a spent cartridge, the new report concluded that the trigger had to have been pulled or depressed.
"This fatal incident was the consequence of the hammer being manually retracted to its fully rearward and cocked position followed, at some point, by the pull or rearward depression of the trigger," the report concluded. "Although Alec Baldwin repeatedly denies pulling the trigger, given the tests, findings and observations reported here, the trigger had to be pulled or depressed sufficiently to release the fully cocked or retracted hammer of the evidence revolver."
In an e-mail on Tuesday, Aug. 15, special prosecutor Kari Morrissey said that a formal announcement on whether to refile charges against Baldwin is forthcoming but did not say how soon.
Baldwin claims the gun accidentally went off. The lead actor of "Rust" said the gun fired accidentally after following instructions to point it toward the 42-year-old cinematographer who was behind the camera in rehearsal.
"[Hutchins is] guiding me through how she wants me to hold the gun for this angle," Baldwin said during an interview with ABC News' George Stephanopoulos. "I'm holding the gun where she told me to hold it, which ended up being aimed right below her armpit. So, I take the gun, and I start to cock the gun. I'm not going to pull the trigger."
"And I cock the gun; I go, 'Can you see that? Can you see that? Can you see that?' And then I let go of the gun’s hammer, and the gun goes off," he added.
Baldwin is the oldest and best-known of the four Baldwin brothers in the acting business. He has eight children and is a member of the Democratic Party.
He played both leading and supporting roles in a variety of films such as Tim Burton's "Beetlejuice" (1988), Mike Nichol's "Working Girl" (1988) and Oliver Stone's "Talk Radio" (1988).
Baldwin gained attention for his performances as Jack Ryan in "The Hunt for Red October" (1990) and in "Glengarry Glenn Rose" (1992). He has also received critical acclaim for his portrayal of Donald Trump on the long-running sketch series "Saturday Night Live."
Film's armorer charged
While Baldwin got a reprieve, the film's armorer, Hannah Gutierrez Reed, was charged with involuntary manslaughter and evidence tampering in the case. She pleaded not guilty. Her trial begins in December.
Assistant director David Halls, who reportedly handed the gun to Baldwin without checking it, pleaded no contest to a misdemeanor charge of negligent use of a deadly weapon in March.
He was sentenced to six months of unsupervised probation, a $500 fine, 24 hours of community service, and required to take a gun safety course.
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Watch this interview where Alec Baldwin says he never pulled the trigger on the gun that killed cinematographer Halyna Hutchins.
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