Witness in Alec Baldwin Film Shooting Case Fears Media Harassment, Seeks Identity Protection

Special prosecutors handling the investigation of the tragic shooting death of a cinematographer on the set of an Alec Baldwin film are making efforts to safeguard the anonymity of a crucial witness.

The witness of Alec Baldwin film shooting case expressed fears of media harassment and potential blacklisting within the industry if their identity is revealed. (Photo: ABC30)

Witness in Alec Baldwin Film Shooting Case Seeks Identity Protection

Prosecutors have expressed their desire to shield the identity of this key witness in the Alec Baldwin film shooting incident, citing legitimate concerns regarding potential industry retaliation and media harassment surrounding the case, according to U.S. News.

According to court filings, the prosecutors have stated that the witness is prepared to testify that Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, the film’s armorer, handed them a small bag of narcotics after returning from an interview at a police station. However, the witness expressed fears of media harassment and potential blacklisting within the industry if their identity is revealed.

The witness, fearing potential media harassment within the film industry, is reluctant to testify publicly, as they believe they may face exclusion for coming forward with information about the defendant, as stated in the court filing. The filing added, “The witness wishes to keep their identity from the public for as long as possible.”

The film’s armorer, Hannah Gutierrez-Reed is currently facing charges of involuntary manslaughter and evidence tampering. This makes Gutierrez-Reed the sole remaining defendant in the case since the involuntary manslaughter charge against Alec Baldwin was dropped by prosecutors in April.  It should be noted that charges against Alec Baldwin can still be refiled at a later time.

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Witness of Alec Baldwin Film Shooting Faces Criticisms

Jason Bowles, the attorney representing Gutierrez-Reed, strongly criticized the prosecutors’ efforts to introduce a “secret witness” in the case.  He expressed his skepticism, stating, “A secret witness appears 20 months later? With no actual corroboration or evidence? And the state won’t identify the person?”. Bowles has further characterized the tampering accusations against his client as “retaliatory and vindictive” and has labeled them as an attempt at “character assassination”.

The film’s armorer, Hannah Gutierrez-Reed is currently facing charges of involuntary manslaughter and evidence tampering. This makes Gutierrez-Reed the sole remaining defendant in the case since the involuntary manslaughter charge against Alec Baldwin was dropped by prosecutors in April.  It should be noted that charges against Alec Baldwin can still be refiled at a later time.

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