Back in April, it seemed like Alec Baldwin was getting off scot-free in the Rust on-set shooting case when prosecutors dropped his two charges of involuntary manslaughter for discharging the prop gun that killed cinematographer Halyna Hutchins and injured director Joel Souza in 2021. However, new charges against the actor could now be brought forth in front of a grand jury in the weeks to come.
"After extensive investigation over the past several months, additional facts have come to light that we believe show Mr. Baldwin has criminal culpability in the death of Halyna Hutchins and the shooting of Joel Souza," Special Prosecutors Kari Morrissey and Jason Lewis said in a statement [via Deadline]. "We believe the appropriate course of action is to permit a panel of New Mexico citizens to determine from here whether Mr. Baldwin should be held over for criminal trial."
"It is unfortunate that a terrible tragedy has been turned into this misguided prosecution," Baldwin's lawyers, Luke Nikas and Alex Spiro of Quinn Emanuel, added in a statement of their own. "We will answer any charges in court."
The news comes a week after a pivotal ruling in the case on October 10, which saw Baldwin fall victim to Rust producers' efforts to nip a subpoena in the bud. Judge Mary Marlow Sommer ruled that said producers needed to hand over internal documents detailing the actor's role in the film's production, which has now been revived and completed with Hutchins's husband as executive producer.
Baldwin has unwaveringly denied his guilt in the tragic accident that took place during a rehearsal on the New Mexico set on October 21, 2021 — despite the fact that the FBI forensics suggested that the prop gun could not have fired without the trigger being pulled.
As of this writing, former Rust armourer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed is still the only one facing charges. Her case is slated to go to trial in February, but that timing is subject to change if Baldwin is charged again.
"After extensive investigation over the past several months, additional facts have come to light that we believe show Mr. Baldwin has criminal culpability in the death of Halyna Hutchins and the shooting of Joel Souza," Special Prosecutors Kari Morrissey and Jason Lewis said in a statement [via Deadline]. "We believe the appropriate course of action is to permit a panel of New Mexico citizens to determine from here whether Mr. Baldwin should be held over for criminal trial."
"It is unfortunate that a terrible tragedy has been turned into this misguided prosecution," Baldwin's lawyers, Luke Nikas and Alex Spiro of Quinn Emanuel, added in a statement of their own. "We will answer any charges in court."
The news comes a week after a pivotal ruling in the case on October 10, which saw Baldwin fall victim to Rust producers' efforts to nip a subpoena in the bud. Judge Mary Marlow Sommer ruled that said producers needed to hand over internal documents detailing the actor's role in the film's production, which has now been revived and completed with Hutchins's husband as executive producer.
Baldwin has unwaveringly denied his guilt in the tragic accident that took place during a rehearsal on the New Mexico set on October 21, 2021 — despite the fact that the FBI forensics suggested that the prop gun could not have fired without the trigger being pulled.
As of this writing, former Rust armourer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed is still the only one facing charges. Her case is slated to go to trial in February, but that timing is subject to change if Baldwin is charged again.
