Alec Baldwin and Rust armourer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed will each be charged with involuntary manslaughter in relation to the 2021 shooting death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins. No charges have been laid in connection to the injuries also sustained by director Joel Souza.
"Rust actor and producer Alec Baldwin and armourer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed will each be charged with two counts of involuntary manslaughter in the death of Halyna Hutchins on the film's Santa Fe County set in 2021," New Mexico First Judicial District Attorney Mary Carmack-Altwies announced in a statement [via CNN]. Carmack-Altwies continued [via BBC]: "On my watch, no one is above the law, and everyone deserves justice."
UPDATE (1/31, 4:15 p.m. ET): Baldwin and Gutierrez-Reed have been formally charged with involuntary manslaughter, according to documents filed by Carmack-Altwies [via CP24]. Both parties maintain their innocence.
Both parties face a possible 18 months in jail and a $5,000 fine if convicted. As per CNN's reporting, "one definition [of involuntary manslaughter] would involve a firearm enhancement, or added mandatory penalty, because a firearm was involved. In that case, the crime could be punishable by a mandatory five years in jail."
Baldwin has maintained his innocence in the case, previously claiming that he "didn't pull the trigger" of the prop gun that shot Hutchins. The actor settled with Hutchins's estate over the wrongful death lawsuit late last year. The film was due to resume shooting this month.
"This decision distorts Halyna Hutchins' tragic death 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 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," Baldwin's attorney Luke Nikas said in a statement.
In October, Hutchins's husband — who has since joined the film as executive producer — absolved Baldwin of any moral complicity, sharing in a statement: "I have no interest in engaging in recriminations or attribution of blame (to the producers or Mr. Baldwin). All of us believe Halyna's death was a terrible accident. I am grateful that the producers and the entertainment community have come together to pay tribute to Halyna's final work."
"Rust actor and producer Alec Baldwin and armourer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed will each be charged with two counts of involuntary manslaughter in the death of Halyna Hutchins on the film's Santa Fe County set in 2021," New Mexico First Judicial District Attorney Mary Carmack-Altwies announced in a statement [via CNN]. Carmack-Altwies continued [via BBC]: "On my watch, no one is above the law, and everyone deserves justice."
UPDATE (1/31, 4:15 p.m. ET): Baldwin and Gutierrez-Reed have been formally charged with involuntary manslaughter, according to documents filed by Carmack-Altwies [via CP24]. Both parties maintain their innocence.
Both parties face a possible 18 months in jail and a $5,000 fine if convicted. As per CNN's reporting, "one definition [of involuntary manslaughter] would involve a firearm enhancement, or added mandatory penalty, because a firearm was involved. In that case, the crime could be punishable by a mandatory five years in jail."
Baldwin has maintained his innocence in the case, previously claiming that he "didn't pull the trigger" of the prop gun that shot Hutchins. The actor settled with Hutchins's estate over the wrongful death lawsuit late last year. The film was due to resume shooting this month.
"This decision distorts Halyna Hutchins' tragic death 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 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," Baldwin's attorney Luke Nikas said in a statement.
In October, Hutchins's husband — who has since joined the film as executive producer — absolved Baldwin of any moral complicity, sharing in a statement: "I have no interest in engaging in recriminations or attribution of blame (to the producers or Mr. Baldwin). All of us believe Halyna's death was a terrible accident. I am grateful that the producers and the entertainment community have come together to pay tribute to Halyna's final work."