I think hes one of the main people responsible ultimately because he’s the producer and the actor who pointed it at someone/direction rehearsing when maybe he could have rehearsed the move in a safer way. Hes got executive responsibility and personal negligence aiming it somewhere to test a move out that he could have aimed elsewhere.
That said, actors trust armorers and the other director on site who both cleared the weapon on set before handing it to him. Those two people are responsible as well, especially the armorer.
No actor who has been given a firing prop weapon that he’s seen/heard two other people, one being the armorer, say the weapon is clear, would think has an actual live round in it. Even a blank’s wadding can injure/kill if a person is within 10 feet and hit in certain places. But no way would any actor think after a weapon i handed to him by an armorer and told its clear by 2 people that theres a live round in it. I’d look because I just don’t trust anyone. But I can see most people not doing so.
Much as I think he’s a worthless POS your take is one of the most logical ones here. He won’t get of without some responsibility but he’s not solely responsible.
I once cleared a Rem 870 after a friend handed it to me, and a shell popped out of the receiver. It apparently had hung up in the magazine. The look on my friend's face was a study.
And this case is an example of exactly why that should never be the case.
Anyone handed a gun should be trained in gun safety and their own responsibility to check it and clear it themselves, and to exercise proper gun safety protocol and NEVER point it at someone they don’t intend to shoot.
You can’t trust others to do what they are supposed to because we are all human and all make mistakes. If this was even a mistake.