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‘Rust’ medic sues crew members, alleging ‘severe emotional distress’

by Sarakshi Rai - 02/08/22 2:19 PM ET

The medic who responded to the shooting on the “Rust” set that resulted in the death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins and injury of film director Joel Souza has filed a negligence lawsuit against several crew members as well as the film’s production company and filming location.

Cherlyn Schaefer said in her complaint she was the “key medic” on the set and “fought desperately” but unsuccessfully to save Hutchins’s life, according to the Santa Fe New Mexican newspaper.

The 29-page filing added that she has “suffered tremendous shock, trauma and severe emotional distress,” which has “affected all aspects of her life and has medically prevented her from returning to her chosen profession.”

The suit claims negligence on the part of several crew members, including armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, first assistant director Dave Halls, ammunition supplier Seth Kenney and prop master Sarah Zachry, according to NBC News.

“Hannah Gutierrez Reed knew or should have known how to distinguish a live round from a dummy round. Hannah Gutierrez Reed knew or should have known she was loading a live round of ammunition into the revolver,” the lawsuit said.

Schaefer is the fourth crew member to file suit following the shooting, according to NBC.

Alec Baldwin was holding a gun on the set of “Rust” when it fired a “suspected live round” that killed Hutchins and injured Souza, according to authorities. An investigation is currently underway. Baldwin has said he did not pull the trigger of the gun.

Gutierrez-Reed previously filed a lawsuit against the film’s gun supplier and the company’s founder in January, alleging that misrepresented dummy rounds are to blame for the fatal shooting.