Charges against Alec Baldwin to be dropped in 'Rust' shooting

2023-04-21 09:16:30 Written by Alex

Prosecutors in New Mexico announced on Thursday their decision to dismiss the charges of involuntary manslaughter against actor Alec Baldwin in connection with the death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins during the filming of the Western movie "Rust" in 2021.

A source familiar with the investigation revealed that the decision to drop the charges of involuntary manslaughter against Alec Baldwin was made following the emergence of new evidence regarding the gun he had been using, which fired the fatal live round that claimed the life of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins during the filming of "Rust" in 2021.

However, state prosecutors confirmed that the movie's weapons handler, Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, who was also charged with involuntary manslaughter in connection with the incident, will still face prosecution as scheduled.

 

"New facts were revealed that demand further investigation and forensic analysis," special prosecutors Kari Morrissey and Jason Lewis said. "We will therefore be dismissing the involuntary manslaughter charges against Mr. Baldwin."

But they added, "This decision does not absolve Mr. Baldwin of criminal culpability and charges may be refiled."

 

On the same day that actor Alec Baldwin and other cast members resumed filming for the movie in Montana, there was a surprising development in the 18-month-old case as the charges against him were dropped. Baldwin's lawyers, Luke Nikas and Alex Spiro, were the first to announce this, and prosecutors later confirmed it.

In an Instagram post on Thursday, Baldwin shared a photo of himself with his wife, Hilaria Baldwin, and expressed gratitude towards her and his lawyer Luke, saying, "I owe everything I have to this woman (and to you, Luke)."

Actor Alec Baldwin, who is 65 years old, and the movie's weapons handler, Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, who is 25 years old, were both charged with two counts of involuntary manslaughter in January. The charges stem from the fatal shooting that occurred on October 21, 2021, during the filming of a movie outside Santa Fe, New Mexico. Cinematographer Halyna Hutchins was killed, and director Joel Souza was injured, when a Colt .45 revolver that Baldwin was rehearsing with discharged a bullet.


In a statement on Thursday, Gutierrez-Reed's lawyers Jason Bowles and Todd Bullion said, "We fully expect at the end of this process that Hannah will also be exonerated."

 

Initially, Alec Baldwin was accused of showing a "reckless" disregard for safety in the death of Halyna Hutchins. Prosecutors claimed that video evidence showed Baldwin with his finger on the trigger of the revolver just minutes before it fired the live round that killed Hutchins. Baldwin, on the other hand, stated that he was informed that the gun was "cold" and that he did not pull the trigger.

Investigators have been unable to ascertain how to live rounds ended up on the movie set. However, after recent evidence viewing, it was discovered that the long Colt .45 "Peacemaker" revolver that Baldwin was using had been modified since its manufacture by Italian gunmaker Pietta, according to a source familiar with the case. This finding undermines the argument that the gun was in a fully functioning and operating form and could only have fired if Baldwin pulled the trigger.

The state's prosecution has faced legal challenges, including two prosecutors being forced to step down and the most serious charge against the defendants being dropped in February. In addition, the first assistant director, Dave Halls, received a suspended sentence last month after pleading guilty to negligent use of a deadly weapon. The prosecutors had held him responsible for set safety.
Source. abc news : reuters