Alec Baldwin To Be Charged With Manslaughter Despite Settling Initial 'Rust' Shooting Lawsuit
Prosecutors have cited a "criminal disregard for safety".
Alec Baldwin after Halyna Hutchins was shot. Right: Halyna Hutchins.
Alec Baldwin will be charged with involuntary manslaughter, the Santa Fe district attorney announced on Thursday, while investigating the shooting incident on the set of the movie Rust that led to the cinematographer Halyna Hutchins' death.
Baldwin, who was acting in and producing the film, along with the movie's armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, will each be charged with two counts “in the alternative,” the district attorney Mary Carmack-Altwies said.
Citing a "criminal disregard for safety," the district attorney says a firearm enhancement would also be included, which could carry a mandatory five years in jail.
Andrea Reeb, who has been appointed as the special prosecutor in this case, said in the press release, “If any one of these three people — Alec Baldwin, Hannah Gutierrez-Reed or David Halls —had done their job, Halyna Hutchins would be alive today. It’s that simple. The evidence clearly shows a pattern of criminal disregard for safety on the Rust film set. In New Mexico, there is no room for film sets that don’t take our state’s commitment to gun safety and public safety seriously.”
Alec Baldwin To Be Charged With Involuntary Manslaughter In Fatal Shooting On Film Set #shortswww.youtube.com
Baldwin’s attorney, Luke Nikas responded to the charges with his own statement: “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.”
A jury will eventually decide if the two accused are guilty, and if found guilty, which definition of manslaughter they are guilty under.
Was Alec Baldwin's shooting lawsuit settled?
It was reported in October of last year that Baldwin had settled the lawsuit with the family of the deceased. The deal was supposed to save the movie from being scrapped altogether, and bring the victim's husband aboard the production team.
Matthew Hutchins, the husband, was expected to be credited as an executive producer, according to a statement he made to Variety.
"I have no interest in engaging in recriminations or attribution of blame," Matthew Hutchins had told the outlet. "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."
Baldwin had also confirmed the settlement in an Instagram statement.
"Throughout this difficult process, everyone has maintained the specific desire to do what is best for Halyna’s son," he had written. "We are grateful to everyone who contributed to the resolution of this tragic and painful situation."
Did Alec Baldwin shoot Halyna Hutchins?
Baldwin was rehearsing with a prop gun when it went off and struck Hutchins and the director, Joel Souza, on the set in October of 2021. Hutchins died of her injuries at the scene while Souza has since recovered.
Baldwin has said that he thought the gun wasn't loaded and that he did not pull the trigger.
The FBI investigation had concluded that the gun could not have gone off without the trigger being pulled.
No one was charged in the before this week's developments. Deadline had reported that the Santa Fe district attorney is looking at charging up to four people with homicide, including Baldwin.
"It would be premature to discuss the case because they had not yet reviewed the file or deliberated about their charging decision," Baldwin's lawyer had told the outlet.
It's now unclear when or if Rust will come out.
This article was originally published on October 5, 2022, but was later updated to reflect new developments in the case.