Alec Baldwin Charged With Manslaughter In ‘Rust’ Shooting
Alec Baldwin has been charged with involuntary manslaughter in the fatal shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on the New Mexico set of the Western movie Rust, per NBC News. The film’s armorer who was in charge of weapons on the set, Hannah Gutierrez Reed, was also charged with involuntary manslaughter, according to New Mexico First Judicial District Attorney Mary Carmack-Altwies. Rust‘s first assistant director, David Halls, agreed to plead guilty to negligent use of a deadly weapon as well. New Mexico’s Office of the Medical Investigator determined that the shooting was an accident. They based this on autopsy results and a review of law enforcement documents.
Hutchins was fatally shot nearly 15 months ago during the filming at the Bonanza Creek Ranch in New Mexico. Baldwin was rehearsing with a prop gun for a scene set inside a church when the gun went off. The gun killed Hutchins and wounded the director, Joel Souza. Hutchins, 42, was survived by her husband, Matthew Hutchins, and their 9-year-old son, Aldous.
Santa Fe County Sheriff Adan Mendoza said in April that he believed there was a “degree of neglect” on the set of Rust. However, he left decisions about criminal charges to the district attorney’s office. In early October, Hutchins’ husband reached a settlement in his wrongful death lawsuit against the producers of Rust, including Baldwin. Per an earlier settlement, filming would resume in January and Matthew would join the project as an executive producer.
After the settlement was announced, Baldwin said in an Instagram post, “Throughout this difficult process, everyone has maintained the specific desire to do what is best for Halyna’s son. We are grateful to everyone who contributed to the resolution of this tragic and painful situation.”
