[imagesource: Facebook / Serge Svetnoy]

While the investigation into exactly how the fatal shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on the set of Rust occurred continues, the lawsuits are flying around.

We’ve already had claims of sabotage coming from the camp of the armourer, Hannah Gutierrez-Reed.

She alleges through her lawyers that she loaded the gun with a box of bullet rounds labelled “dummy” before the shooting, with a switch possibly occurring while she was otherwise occupied.

Alec Baldwin, who pulled the trigger on October 21, is now at the centre of two lawsuits

The first was filed last week by Rust gaffer Serge Svetnoy. He has filed a complaint of general negligence against the production, the financiers, Baldwin, armourer Hannah Gutierrez Reed, first Assistant Director David Halls, and others.

Now a second lawsuit has been filed, this time by script supervisor Mamie Mitchell. More via Deadline:

“Alec Baldwin intentionally, without just cause or excuse, cocked and fired the loaded gun even though the upcoming scene to be filmed did not call for the cocking and firing of the firearm,” reads Mitchell’s complaint on claims of assault, intentional infliction of emotional distress.

“Mr. Baldwin chose to play Russian Roulette with a loaded gun without checking it and without having the armorer do so.”

Image: AP Photo/Jae C. Hong

…The 29-page filing in Los Angeles Superior Court names star-producer Baldwin, Rust producers and production companies, armorer Hannah Gutierrez Reed, first assistant director David Halls, property master Sarah Zachry and others in another damning portrayal of a film playing fast and loose with safety and other regulations.

Baldwin is singled out as having had a major role to play in what transpired, with Mitchell’s complaint saying the actor “should have assumed that the gun in question was loaded unless and until it was demonstrated to him or checked by him that it was not loaded”.

He was handed the gun by Halls, who had previously shouted “cold gun” before doing so, indicating that the weapon did not have live rounds.

With regards to the issue of whether or not Baldwin was even required to fire a gun for the scene, here’s the Associated Press:

Mitchell’s lawsuit focuses mainly on Baldwin’s actions. It said she was standing next to Hutchins and within 4 feet (1.22 meters) of the actor, and was stunned when he fired the gun inside the tiny church on Bonanza Creek Ranch on Oct. 21.

According to discussions before the scene was filmed, it called for three tight shots of Baldwin: One on his eyes, one on a blood stain on his shoulder, and one on his torso as he pulled the gun from a holster, the lawsuit says.

There was no call for Baldwin to point the gun toward Hutchins and Souza, nor to fire it, the lawsuit says.

Mitchell, who has worked on in excess of 100 productions, says she has suffered “serious physical trauma and shock and injury to her nervous system” as a result of the shooting.

She is now financial compensation and punitive damages.

The headaches for Alec Baldwin and others involved in the fatal shooting may just be getting started.

[sources:deadline&ap]