Alec Baldwin Set Formally Charged For Involuntary Manslaughter Of Set Cinematographer Halyna Hutchins
Alec Baldwin, 64, is formally being charged after almost two years since the random shooting of a set cinematographer using a prop gun.
The New Mexico district attorney made the information public through a spokeswoman on Monday. The attorney stated that her office would release charging documents and a probable cause statement outlining the evidence.
Over a couple of weeks, the Santa Fe District Attorney, Mary Carmack-Altwies, drew two sets of outlines of involuntary manslaughter charges in connection with the 2021 set shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins. The charges connect both Alec and the set supervisor, Hannah Gutierrez-Reed.
Also, prosecutors announced that they would release a signed plea agreement for the assistant director on the Rust set, David Halls, who was in charge of set safety. Following the shooting and the case unfolding, set participants have provided prosecutors with conflicting accounts of who handed Alec the gun.
According to the set search warrant, some witnesses state that David gave Alec the gun and declared it a “cold gun” despite live ammo in the chamber. However, David had denied giving Alec the gun in a December deposition with the New Mexico Occupational Health and Safety Bureau. In his statement, he said he gave the gun to Hannah, who declared it a “cold gun.”
Since the state prosecutor announced on January 19, 2023, that Alec Baldwin will be facing charges, his wife, Hilaria Baldwin, 39, has publicly admitted that she doesn’t “feel so strong.” On a recent episode of her podcast, Witches Anonymous, she told her audience: “It’s been an emotional time for my family. And I do so want to express to you how grateful I am for your support and your kindness and your reason.”
“Quite honestly, without it, we would crumble. So, thank you so much for being our rock right now because I don’t feel so strong,” she said.
In October 2022, Alec Baldwin agreed to a settlement with the family of the deceased cinematographer, Halyna Hutchins. The original lawsuit filed by the family claimed the Rust film producers “failed to perform industry-standard safety checks and follow basic gun safety rules while using real guns to produce the movie Rust, with fatal consequences.”
The settlement was reached in late 2022. However, the statement given on January 30, 2023, by Heather Brewer, the district attorney’s spokeswoman, stated prosecutors are “fully focused on securing justice for Halyna Hutchins.”
Once charges have been filed, Alec will be summoned and allowed to appear virtually before a judge. A probable cause hearing is the first step in the judicial process. The case would proceed to full trial once Alec pleads not guilty, which he is expected to do.
