Back in 2021, Hollywood was shocked by the news that Alec Baldwin accidentally shot and killed Halyna Hutchins on the set of the movie. Rust.
Last week, several outlets reported that prosecutors were planning to indict Baldwin in Hutchins’ death.
On Tuesday afternoon, the report was confirmed, as the Santa Fe County, New Mexico, district attorney filed involuntary manslaughter charges against Baldwin.
The news was reported some time ago by CNN, which received a direct statement from the DA’s office.
“Today, we have taken another important step toward securing justice for Halyna Hutchins,” said District Attorney Mary Carmack-Altwies.
“In New Mexico, nothing is above the law and justice will be served.”
Carmack-Altwies said Baldwin is not the only person charged in connection with the shooting.
“The use of deadly weapons charges were also filed against ‘Rust’ assistant director David Halls, who has pleaded no contest and has entered into a plea agreement pending approval,” said the District Attorney.
It’s unclear if Baldwin was offered a similar plea deal, but it’s unlikely he would accept an offer that would require him to plead guilty.
Baldwin has repeatedly denied wrongdoing in Hutchins’ death, suggesting he didn’t know the gun was loaded, and suggesting the film’s actress, Hannah Gutierrez Reed, was responsible.
Prosecutors said Baldwin was reckless on set and did not take his weapons training seriously.
“A practice session of at least an hour or more was scheduled, but the actual practice only lasted about 30 minutes because according to Reed, Baldwin was distracted and talking on his cell phone with his family during practice,” he said. DA’s office today.
“Gutierrez Reed was reckless in his responsibility to ensure the safety of the aircraft with firearms,” the prosecutor continued.
“They failed to justify Baldwin from committing a dangerous and reckless safety violation by pointing a weapon at/at someone and with his finger on the trigger.
Gutierrez Reed has also been charged in connection with Hutchins’ death.
The DA further stated that photographs from the set prove that Baldwin failed to protect himself and those around him by following proper trigger safety practices.
“Photos and video clearly show Baldwin, multiple times, with his finger inside the trigger guard and on the trigger, while cocking the hammer and while drawing, pointing, and holding the revolver,” prosecutors said.
In a statement issued Jan. 19, Baldwin’s attorney called the prosecutor’s decision a “horrific miscarriage of justice.”
“This decision destroys the tragic death of Halyna Hutchins and represents a terrible miscarriage of justice. Mr. Baldwin had no reason to believe there was a live bullet in the gun – or anywhere on the film set,” said lawyer Luke Nikas in a statement.
“He trusted the professionals he worked with, who assured him that the gun was free of live bullets. We will fight the charges, and we will win.
Baldwin has not commented publicly on the current development.
We will have more updates on this developing story as new information becomes available.