Bonanza Creek Ranch, The Set Of Alec Baldwin's Film 'Rust' Where A Fatal Incident Took Place Last Week, Accused Of Negligence In Prior 2006 Incident
Oct. 26 2021, Published 11:28 a.m. ET
Alec Baldwin’s accidental shooting of crew member Halyna Hutchins on the set of the movie Rust last week is reportedly not the first serious incident involving firearms to take place at Bonanza Creek Ranch.
According to The Sun, Bonanza Creek Ranch was accused of negligence in 2006 after musician Sean Helean claims an actor fired a loaded firearm next to his head, allegedly resulting in permanent ear damage.
A lawsuit was reportedly filed in 2006 against Bonanza Creek Ranch and a number of other defendants, including Shawn Caffrey - the actor who Helean claims shot the gun off next to his head.
“Sean Helean was setting up his band equipment to perform. Shawn Caffrey, who was allowed to retain possession of his firearm and to drink alcohol, even though his firearm was visible, in a drunken state fired a pistol next to Sean Helean’s ear,” the lawsuit claimed.
Helean and his wife Wendy Helean reportedly asked the court to allow them an undisclosed amount of money in damages from the defendants due to the pain and suffering caused by the incident. The case was eventually dismissed after a settlement agreement was negotiated by both parties.
This newly resurfaced lawsuit from 2006 comes less than a week after Alec Baldwin accidentally fired a loaded gun at the ranch, killing crew member Halyna Hutchins and seriously injuring director Joel Souza.