Rust gun supplier sues Alec Baldwin and producers over ‘scapegoating defamation campaign’

an arms supplier who worked War A comprehensive lawsuit has been filed against Alec Baldwin and accused the film’s producers and crew of waging a “scapegoat smear campaign” that destroyed the cinematographer’s livelihood following his fatal 2021 shooting. Halina Hutchins,

In a 35-page complaint filed in a New Mexico court this week, Seth Kenny and his company, PDQ Arm & Prop, claim that Baldwin and the film’s production team “intentionally defamed” him by suggesting that his company supplied the live ammunition that killed Hutchins.

The lawsuit seeks unspecified damages for reputation and financial damages. “The defendants, individually and collectively, are attempting to distance themselves from War The criminal investigation and negative publicity onslaught conspired to paint Plaintiff in a nationwide false scapegoating campaign,” the lawsuit reads.

Baldwin, who is rusty A gun was pointed at the lead actor and co-producer Hutchins during A rehearsal took place on the set in October 2021 when it shut downCinematographer murdered and director injured joel souza,

They were filming at Bonanza Creek Ranch near Santa Fe at the time.

The lawsuit alleges that the manufacturers “spread lies” to law enforcement and the media and claimed that Kenney had distributed live rounds disguised as dummy bullets.

His company supplied only inert ammunition and blanks, insisting that “no live ammunition was ever provided for Rust production”.

Kenny alleges that Baldwin, armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed and more than 30 others, including producers and senior crew, conspired “with hardcore Hollywood fixers and the media” to deflect blame for the presence of live ammunition on the set.

He says the defendants spread lies through a “national propaganda campaign”, leaving him financially ruined and unable to find work.

“It’s been devastating,” Kenny said. Diversity“It’s not about saving face. There’s nothing left to lose. This whole thing has gone to waste and I’ve become the scapegoat.”

In his lawsuit, Kenny accused the production of violating safety rules, failing to pay rental fees for his equipment, and allowing his gun to be used improperly. They also claim that Baldwin failed to attend a required gun inspection prior to the incident.

Baldwin has denied wrongdoing and said he believed the weapon contained only dummy rounds. He said he pulled the hammer but not the trigger. and the revolver fired,

A The criminal case against Baldwin over the shooting was dismissed in July 2024. After prosecutors admitted that Evidence related to the gun was hidden And the weapon could be modified before testing. He was charged with culpable homicide after the shooting.

Independent Baldwin’s representatives have been contacted for comment.

Gutierrez-Reed, who loaded the weapon, was convicted of involuntary manslaughter in March 2024 and sentenced to 18 months in prison. He Released on parole in May 2025 And is appealing against her sentence.

Investigators never determined how the live rounds became mixed with the blanks supplied for production.

Prosecutors claimed during her trial in 2024 that Gutierrez-Reed had brought contaminated dummy rounds from a previous film, old wayStarring Nicolas Cage.

Kenny’s lawsuit repeats that allegation, stating that her dummy rounds were “mixed with live .45 Colt rounds, which she was shooting in her spare time while working as an armorer. old way”,

Gutierrez-Reed filed her own lawsuit accusing Kenny of introducing live rounds in 2022, but it was later dropped.

Kenny says he rigorously “rattle tested” each dummy round to ensure it was inert and that investigators never proved that live ammunition came from his stock.

“People who know me understand how determined I am,” he said.

Dummy rounds usually have a metal ball inside and a rattle when shaken. A live bullet does not rattle when shaken.

Live rounds should never take place on a film set for any reason. In earlier testimony, Souza said He refused to believe that he had been shot because the idea of ​​live rounds on set was alien to him. Cherlyn Schaefer, a paramedic who worked on the set and testified at Ms. Gutierrez-Reed’s trial, said she was not equipped with extensive equipment to treat gunshot wounds because live rounds were never meant to be fired on the set.

In 2022, Kenny told investigators that he could not remember whether he had supplied the box found at the vacant lot. War set, adding that it was “entirely possible” he could supply it to Gutierrez-Reid for use old way,

However, he insisted that it was still It is the responsibility of Gutierrez-Reed to assume that all rounds were live unless personally verified otherwise,

Kenny told Diversity The bullets did not come from him but possibly from Gutierrez-Reid’s father, Veteran film armorer Thel Reed.

Kenny says the “last straw” for his lawsuit came in January 2025, When Baldwin filed a malicious prosecution claim against New Mexico officials,

In that matterBaldwin’s lawyers suggested that Kenney may have inadvertently mixed live rounds into a batch of dummy ammunition, which Kenney said rekindled suspicions against him.

Kenny also alleged that Baldwin and others employed “media fixers, online trolls, and YouTube commentators” to make him appear responsible for the shooting.

His weapon is still with the authorities as evidence and he claims the consequences have been “terminal” to his career. He said, “I refuse to accept defeat. It is not that I have lost work in the industry. It is possible that I may lose work in the industry for some time.”

Kenney testifies in March 2024 He provided a box of 50 dummy rounds, which he personally cleaned and repacked WarSaying that these had previously been used in another production in Texas.

When asked if he ever gave propmaster Sarah Zachary any live ammunition, he said he did not.

War Premiere at Camerimage Festival in Torun, Poland on November 20, 2024 and hits US theaters in limited release on May 2, 2025.

IndependentAdam White gave the film two stars. and described it as “overall a sad experience”.