Ammo supplier testifies: No live rounds provided in fatal 'rust' shooting
An ammunition supplier testified at trial Monday that he only provided inert dummy rounds to the Western film "Rust" where actor Alec Baldwin fatally shot cinematographer Halyna Hutchins in 2021
Albuquerque-based movie firearms and ammunition supplier Seth Kenney took the stand at the trial of "Rust" movie armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, who is charged with involuntary manslaughter and evidence tampering in the death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins.
Kenney told the jury he cleaned and repackaged ammunition for "Rust" that was previously supplied to a production in Texas. He said he delivered a box of 50 inert fake bullets without gunpowder to the stage manager of "Rust" on Oct. 12, 2021.
Kenney also testified that he meticulously cleaned the exterior and removed the residue from each dummy round to ensure safety by making the telltale rattle of a metal pellet inside discernible.
The trial's outcome may pivot on testimony regarding the origin of the six live rounds discovered on the "Rust" set, including the one fired from Alec Baldwin's gun. The presence of live ammunition violates industry and union guidelines explicitly prohibiting it on movie sets.
Prosecutors assert that Gutierrez-Reed bears responsibility for inadvertently bringing live ammunition on set and disregarding fundamental safety protocols for handling weapons. She has pleaded not guilty.
Defense attorneys contend that their client is being unfairly targeted and blamed for issues beyond her control, including Baldwin's handling of the weapons.
Source: Newsroom & Associated Press
