The gunsmith in the film is being prosecuted for involuntary manslaughter. Alec Baldwin had pointed a weapon supposed to contain only blank bullets.
A very real projectile had killed cinematographer Halyna Hutchins and injured director Joel Souza. The actor has always denied pulling the trigger and has always maintained that he was assured that his weapon was harmless. The film's first assistant director, Dave Halls, received a six-month suspended prison sentence last March. He had handed the gun at the heart of the drama to Alec Baldwin, assuring him it was not dangerous.