Actor Alec Baldwin has been charged with manslaughter for firing a handgun containing live ammunition at cinematographer Halyna Hutchins, during the filming of Rust, as Baldwin was rehearsing a scene for the film when the shooting occurred on a ranch near Sante Fe, New Mexico.
in October 2021. The same charge was brought against Hannah Gutierrez Reed, who was responsible for the weapon from which the ammunition had gone. The film’s director, Joel Souza, was also injured in the shooting, but prosecutors said no charges will be filed in connection with this.
Alec Baldwin is threatened with imprisonment
Santa Fe County Attorney Mary Carmack-Altwie announced the charges Thursday, adding that they will be filed by the end of the month. “Actor and producer Alec Baldwin and arms manufacturer Hannah Gutierrez Reed will be charged with two counts of manslaughter.
I have determined there is sufficient evidence. ‘No one is above the law, and everyone deserves justice,'” the statement read. If convicted, they both face up to prison terms. 18 months and a fine of $5,000 (£4,040).Prosecutors said Baldwin and Gutierrez will be tried by a jury, and added that the film’s assistant director David Holes has entered a guilty plea to a misdemeanor count of negligent use of a deadly weapon. He will serve six months’ probation.
In a statement, the attorney for Ms. Hutchins’ husband, Matthew, said he supported the charges. “It is a great relief for the family that in New Mexico, no one is above the law,” he said.
Alec Baldwin’s attorney insists he denies the charges
For their part, attorneys for Alec Baldwin and Hannah Gutierrez Reid said they intend to fight the charges in court. Luke Nicas described; Baldwin’s attorney, the decision is a terrible miscarriage of justice. “Mr. Baldwin had no reason to believe there was a live bullet in the gun, or anywhere on set,” Nikas said. “He relied on the professionals he worked with, who assured him that the gun did not contain live bullets. We will fight these accusations, and we will win.” Meanwhile, Ms Gutierrez-Reid’s lawyer, Todd Bullion, said the announcement was the result of a deeply flawed investigation and an inaccurate understanding of the full facts. deliberate”.
Rust movie crisis
Halyna Hutchins died in hospital shortly after being shot in the chest from a prop gun fired by Mr. Baldwin during filming. The incident resulted in accusations of negligence and led to calls for better safety protocols on film sets.
A preliminary investigation into the incident found there was a degree of negligence, and the producers were fined more than $136,000 by the New Mexico Department of the Environment for failing to implement safety protocols. Baldwin has previously sued several people involved in the film, including Ms Gutierrez Reid and Mr Hales, alleging they failed to examine the gun carefully.
