'Rust' fatality shot: Alec Baldwin charged with involuntary manslaughter!

District Attorney Sees 'Enough Evidence' To Charge Alec Baldwin

First District Attorney Mary Carmack-Altwies announced in her official statement on January 19 that her office will file charges before the end of the month. 'After a thorough review of the evidence and the laws of the State of New Mexico, I have determined that there is sufficient evidence to indict Alec Baldwin and other members of the 'Rust' film crew,' said Carmack-Altwies. 'There is no one under my supervision above the law and everyone deserves justice.'

With Baldwin and Gutierrez-Reed, the jury will not only decide if they are guilty, but what their definition of involuntary manslaughter is.

Prosecutors See 'Patterns of Criminal Security Disregard' on Rust Set

In announcing the charges, prosecutors' special counsel, Andrew Reeb, said: 'The evidence clearly shows a pattern of criminal disregard for security on the set of 'Rust.' There is no place in New Mexico for movie sets that don't take seriously our state's commitment to gun safety and public safety.'

'If any one of those three people - Alec Baldwin, Hannah Gutierrez-Reed or David Halls - had done his job, Halyna Hutchins would be alive today. It's that simple!” explains Andrew Reeb.

According to a statement from the public prosecutor's office, 'Rust' assistant director David Halls already signed an agreement admitting to negligent use of a deadly weapon. This agreement provides for a suspended sentence and six months probation.

No charges will be brought in connection with the non-fatal shooting of Rust director Joel Souza, who was shot in the shoulder in the incident.

What happened? Live ammo in Baldwin's gun

Chief camerawoman Halyna Hutchins (42) was fatally injured by a gunshot on October 21, 2021 while filming the low-budget western 'Rust' on a film ranch in Santa Fe. had the shot Alec Baldwin fired from a gun during rehearsal for a scene. Investigations revealed that the .45 caliber revolver contained a real bullet.

Assistant director Dave Halls handed the gun to the actor and explained that it was a 'cold gun' – i.e. without live ammunition. The production worker admitted to the police that he had not checked the weapon closely enough. Gunsmith Hannah Gutierrez-Reed later said she was unaware of the live ammunition on set. Also Director Joel Souza was badly injured in the shoulder by the projectile in the incident.

Baldwin denied the blame

Halyna Hutchins left husband Matthew and your `s son Andros, who was then nine years old . Alec Baldwin, meanwhile father of eight , had in Interviews always denied the blame for the fatal accident . He asserted that he had not pulled the trigger, the shot had been released automatically. 'She died is the worst thing of all. Someone died and it could have been avoided. It was so unnecessary. I think about it every day of my life,' Baldwin explained in a CNN interview.

Litigation with Hutchen's family settled

A number of civil lawsuits have been filed over the past few months over the fatal shooting. Hutchin's family filed a lawsuit against Baldwin and other contributors in February 2022, alleging wrongful death . In October 2022 it became known that the Hollywood star had reached an out-of-court settlement with the relatives .

Among other things, the chief lighting technician as well as the Script Supervisor des Western-Films versus Alec Baldwin, who co-produced Rust. In order to restore his reputation as an actor, Baldwin also sued members of the Rust set. To date, the authorities have not brought any charges against those involved. (abl)