The more that comes out about the shooting of Halyna Hutchins, the more it looks like Baldwin is guilty of involuntary manslaughter. Also, when you look at the aftermath, this is a textbook example of why you should never talk to police without a lawyer.
Obviously, the actus reus is in place for a conviction. The question remaining in regard to Baldwin's guilt is mens rea. Was he aware of the risk; and, did he disregard that knowledge and do it anyway?
Well, Baldwin said, in no uncertain terms, to George Stephanopoulos that he knew to never point a gun at somebody and pull the trigger, and that that was his training. So, he's admitted that he's known for about forty years that you don't point a gun at somebody and pull the trigger.
That's the answer to the first mens rea question. Yep, he knew that.
Did he knowingly disregard his knowledge of that risk?
Well, by his own words to police, Hannah Gutierrez-Reed allegedly handed him the gun (the story has since changed to the AD handing him the gun) and told him that it was a cold gun. She then, by Baldwin's own words, asked him if he wanted to check the gun. Baldwin then, by his own words, declined to check the gun because he didn't want to "insult Hanna."
So, yes, he knew the risk, and consciously disregarded that knowledge.
Finally, take a look at the two images below. My gun is the same as his -- only, mine is a real Colt and his was a knock-off. Even if they were referring to guns with dummy rounds in them as "cold guns", there should have been an awareness of how easy it can be to mistake a dummy for a live round. The gun should have been checked by Baldwin, under the supervision of the armorer no matter what; but, especially if he knew that the gun was loaded with anything.
Look at the images of my gun. In one, the gun isn't loaded. In the other, it is. I know it's subtle; but, you can see that there's something in the gun by simply looking at it from the side.
