Renowned actor and producer Alec Baldwin is facing manslaughter charges in connection to the tragic 2021 shooting incident that unfolded on the set of the film ‘Rust.’ According to a court document filed on Friday, Baldwin, who was also a producer on the project, was holding a Colt .45 during rehearsals for the low-budget Western in New Mexico when it discharged a live round, resulting in the tragic death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins and injuring director Joel Souza.
Baldwin has consistently denied any responsibility for the incident, maintaining that he did not pull the trigger and that the firearm should have been loaded with a dummy round. This latest development represents an ongoing effort to establish accountability for the shocking incident, which sent shockwaves throughout Hollywood and ignited discussions about the need for stricter regulations regarding firearms on movie sets.
The initial manslaughter charges against Baldwin were dropped in April last year, citing “new facts” requiring further investigation and forensic analysis. Subsequently, in October, prosecutors announced the convening of a grand jury to evaluate the evidence and determine whether there was a case to answer.
In response to Friday’s developments, Baldwin’s attorneys, Luke Nikas and Alex Spiro, issued a statement expressing their readiness for the forthcoming legal proceedings. If convicted of the new charge, Baldwin could potentially face up to 18 months in jail.
Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, the film’s armorer responsible for supplying and maintaining weapons, is set to go on trial next month on charges of involuntary manslaughter and tampering with evidence. Prosecutors argue that, as the person responsible for loading the gun, she shares culpability for the incident. However, Gutierrez-Reed vehemently denies these allegations.
The source of the live rounds on the movie set remains a mystery. Dave Halls, the film’s safety coordinator and assistant director who handed Baldwin the loaded gun, agreed to a plea deal with prosecutors and was sentenced to six months’ probation.
Despite the tragedy, filming of ‘Rust’ resumed last year and has since been completed, utilizing new locations in the US state of Montana. The widower of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins, Matthew Hutchins, settled a wrongful death suit with ‘Rust’ producers and has expressed no interest in assigning blame, referring to his wife’s death as a “terrible accident.” Director Joel Souza also returned to finish the movie, acknowledging the bittersweet nature of the endeavor while emphasizing the cast and crew’s dedication to completing the work that Halyna and he had begun.
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