On October 17, in New Mexico, news emerged that prosecutors will convene a grand jury to consider refiling an involuntary manslaughter charge against actor Alec Baldwin after the tragic shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on the set of the film “Rust” in 2021.
The reappearance of the charge comes after it was previously dismissed in April. The reintroduction stems from fresh forensic analysis, which poses questions regarding Baldwin’s previous statements. Specifically, he had stated that he did not pull the trigger. Contradicting this, the recent evidence suggests that the gun would have required the trigger to be pulled for it to fire.
Earlier, suggestions of the gun potentially being altered led to the dismissal of the charge against Baldwin. Addressing the renewed investigation, Baldwin’s defense terms the prosecutor’s attempts as “misguided” and is prepared to face any charges in a legal setting.
If the new evidence leads to Baldwin’s conviction, he might be looking at up to 18 months of imprisonment. This situation has spurred fresh talks on the significance of safety measures on filming locations and the duty of those involved.
The movie’s armorer, Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, is also under continued investigation. Her ongoing criminal case focuses on the potential neglect of safety procedures and her specific role in the unfortunate event.
The latest forensic evidence is leading prosecutors to believe Baldwin had a direct role in Hutchins’ unfortunate death. The theory is that for the firearm to go off, Baldwin would have had to press the trigger.
While Baldwin is at the center of this investigation, there’s an additional angle targeting the film’s production. Prosecutors are seeking clarity on Baldwin’s terms with the production entity, suggesting a wider investigation that might encompass other crew participants or facets related to the production of the film.
