Alec Baldwin will be charged with involuntary manslaughter over the shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on the set of film Rust in October 2021.
The film’s armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed will also be charged with involuntary manslaughter.
Attorneys for both Baldwin and Gutierrez-Reed said their clients would fight the charges.
“This decision distorts Halyna Hutchins’ tragic death and represents a terrible miscarriage of justice,” said Baldwin’s attorney Luke Nikas. ”Mr. Baldwin had no reason to believe there was a live bullet in the gun – or anywhere on the movie set. He relied on the professionals with whom he worked, who assured him the gun did not have live rounds. We will fight these charges, and we will win.”
Jason Bowles, representing Gutierrez-Reed, said: ”Hannah is, and has always been, very emotional and sad about this tragic accident. But she did not commit involuntary manslaughter. These charges are the result of a very flawed investigation, and an inaccurate understanding of the full facts. We intend to bring the full truth to light and believe Hannah will be exonerated of wrongdoing by a jury.”
Hutchins was killed when Baldwin fired a prop gun on the New Mexico set of the Western.
Assistant director David Halls has signed a plea agreement for the charge of negligent use of a deadly weapon.
Santa Fe’s District Attorney Mary Carmack-Altwies said in a statement:
“Actor and producer Alec Baldwin and armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed will each be charged with two counts of involuntary manslaughter. After a thorough review of the evidence… I have determined that there is sufficient evidence. On my watch, no one is above the law, and everyone deserves justice.”
In New Mexico, involuntary manslaughter carries a prison term of up to 18 months and a $5,000 fine.
In an interview last year, Baldwin said he did not believe the gun contained live ammunition after Halls handed him the weapon and declared it “cold”, indicating it did not contain live rounds. Director Joel Souza was also injured in the incident.
Hutchins’ family settled a wrongful death civil lawsuit against Baldwin and other producers last year. Production on the project was set to resume this year with Hutchins’s husband serving as executive producer.
No comments yet