Renowned actor Alec Baldwin, 65, is facing an indictment for involuntary manslaughter following the 2021 fatal shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on the set of the Western movie “Rust” in New Mexico.
This indictment came from a grand jury in Santa Fe, New Mexico, and follows the dismissal of similar charges against Baldwin in April 2023.
The fatal event took place in October 2021 during a scene rehearsal at a nearby ranch in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Baldwin was in possession of a Colt .45 revolver that unexpectedly fired, leading to Hutchins’ death. Baldwin has consistently stated he did not pull the trigger and was unaware the gun contained live ammunition, maintaining he was told the gun was “cold,” or safe.
Initial charges filed against Baldwin were dismissed after questions arose about the Colt .45’s functionality during the incident. However, the case was revisited following new witness testimonies and expert weapon analysis. A forensic report from Lucien and Michael Haag, experts assigned by special prosecutors Kari Morrissey and Jason Lewis, asserted that the firearm could only be discharged by trigger pull—directly contradicting Baldwin’s claim.
Should Baldwin be found guilty, he could face up to 18 months in prison. Baldwin’s attorneys, Luke Nikas and Alex Spiro are prepared to defend these charges in court. Nikas has previously criticized the decision to indict Baldwin as “misguided,” highlighting the accidental nature of the event.
The film’s armorer, Hannah Gutierrez Reed, is also facing charges of involuntary manslaughter and tampering with evidence. She is alleged to have improperly loaded a live bullet into the gun, which was supposed to contain only dummy rounds. The question of how live ammunition ended up among the dummy rounds on the set is still unanswered. Gutierrez Reed’s trial is set to start on February 21.
Matthew Hutchins, Halyna Hutchins’ husband, filed a wrongful death lawsuit post-shooting, which was settled in October 2022. The settlement included insurance funds and a share of the film’s profits, which will benefit the couple’s son who was nine years old at the time of his mother’s passing.
Despite the settlement, Brian Panish, the attorney for Hutchins, backed the manslaughter charges against Baldwin, asserting they were justified and expressing hope in the justice system’s ability to enforce the law.
The probe into the shooting also delved into Baldwin’s role in the film set’s management. The New Mexico division of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration concluded that Baldwin, despite being a producer on “Rust,” did not have authority over safety standards on the set.
In an associated legal case, David Halls, the film’s first assistant director, pleaded no contest in March to a misdemeanor gun charge. He was given six months of unsupervised probation.
The film “Rust” completed production in Montana in an effort to honor Hutchins’ last work. Matthew Hutchins has stated he does not blame Baldwin for the shooting, describing it as a “terrible accident” and expressing gratitude for the support in honoring his late wife’s work.
The indictment of Alec Baldwin represents the most recent development in a case that has ignited widespread discourse around on-set safety and the utilization of firearms in film production. As Baldwin potentially faces trial and Gutierrez Reed’s trial approaches, this case continues to evolve.
