(NewsNation) — The first witness in Alec Baldwin’s involuntary manslaughter trial was called to the stand Wednesday.
Nicholas LeFleur, a former Santa Fe County Sheriff’s deputy, was the first law enforcement member who arrived on the set of the film “Rust” on the day cinematographer Halyna Hutchins was shot and killed.
When he arrived, people were “running everywhere,” LeFleur testified.
During opening statements Wednesday, a prosecutor told jurors that the actor skipped safety checks and recklessly handled the revolver in the moments leading up to the shooting.
“The evidence will show that someone who played make-believe with a real gun and violated the cardinal rules of firearm safety is the defendant, Alexander Baldwin,” said special prosecutor Erlinda Ocampo Johnson.
She emphasized that the ‘Rust’ set was a workplace.
“The evidence will show that like in many workplaces, there are people who act in a reckless manner and place other people in danger,” Johnson said. “That, you will hear, is the defendant.”
Baldwin’s lawyer Alex Spiro, meanwhile, said in court that his client did exactly what actors always do on a film set.
“I don’t have to tell you any more about this, because you’ve all seen gunfights in movies,” Spiro said.
Safety, Spiro said, should be ensured before the weapon gets to an actor.
“It was obviously a tragic accident, but Alec Baldwin committed no crime,” Spiro said.
A 16-person jury — 11 women and five men — was selected Tuesday; four jurors will be deemed alternates while the other 12 will deliberate once they get the case.
The shooting death of Hutchins nearly three years ago sent shock waves through the film industry and led to one felony charge against Baldwin that could result in up to 18 months in prison. Baldwin has pleaded not guilty.
What to expect from prosecutors
Prosecutors have said they’ll present evidence that Baldwin went “off script” and failed to follow basic industry standards for firearms safety when he pointed the firearm at Hutchins on Oct. 21, 2021.
Additionally, prosecutors are expected to argue that Baldwin acted with disregard for the safety of others and that it was his negligent use of a firearm. They’re also expected to argue that he had more responsibility for safety because he was not just an actor in the movie but a producer.
What to expect from the defense
The defense, on the other hand, is expected to argue that it isn’t the job of an actor to make sure live rounds are not in his gun, a position strongly supported by the actor’s union.
Baldwin’s attorneys will most likely also attack the gun evidence and say that damage to the revolver done during an FBI test was due to the destruction of evidence.
What charges is Alec Baldwin facing?
Baldwin is facing charges he negligently disregarded the safety of others after Hutchins was killed on set.
The gun Baldwin was using in the scene was meant to be loaded with dummy rounds. During a rehearsal, Baldwin allegedly pointed the gun at the camera and fired. Hutchins was killed and director Joel Souza was injured in the shooting.
Baldwin, who was also a producer on the film, has maintained he did not pull the trigger on the weapon and that it fired by accident, something FBI analysts disputed after examining the gun.
It’s not clear who brought live rounds onto the set.
What happened to Hannah Gutierrez-Reed?
Armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed is currently serving an 18-month prison sentence for involuntary manslaughter after being convicted earlier this year. She was the person on set responsible for maintaining and keeping track of weapons used in the movie. Prosecutors alleged she was negligent for not realizing live rounds had been mixed in with a box of dummy rounds.
Gutierrez-Reed’s lawyers argued that producers had failed to keep the set safe and did not hold enough safety meetings. They also said Baldwin had failed to pay attention to firearms safety briefings.
Gutierrez-Reed has appealed and has accused prosecutors of withholding evidence.
NewsNation’s Steph Whiteside, Brian Entin and Kelsey Kernstein and the Associated Press contributed to this story.
