With a lengthy investigation behind them, New Mexico authorities are now pressing new charges in the shooting death of Halyna Hutchins: The cinematographer shot and killed by Alec Baldwin on the set of the now-canceled western film “Rust”.
Baldwin, who was holding an unknowingly loaded weapon at the time of the incident, shot and killed Hutchins during rehearsal. How and why a live round was ever inside of an on-set firearm is a troubling question, certainly, and authorities have decided that at least two individual are deserving of the blame…one of them being Baldwin.
Alec Baldwin will be criminally charged by New Mexico prosecutors for the 2021 fatal shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on the set of the film “Rust,” authorities said Thursday.
Baldwin, the Emmy-winning star of “30 Rock” and dozens of films including “The Hunt for Red October,” shot the bullet that killed Hutchins. Baldwin said he “didn’t pull the trigger” in an ABC interview. An FBI forensic report obtained by ABC News uncovered that despite Baldwin’s denial, the gun could not have gone off without the trigger being pulled.
One of the set’s key safety figures will also face charges.
Baldwin and the movie’s armorer, Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, each will be charged with two counts of involuntary manslaughter. One of the involuntary manslaughter counts is one in which prosecutors will have to prove there is underlying negligence, prosecutors said. This is a fourth-degree felony that carries a sentence of up to 18 months in jail and a $5,000 fine.
The dual charges could be hard to beat.
The second involuntary manslaughter charge is one for the commission of a lawful act, a more severe charge which requires proof that there was more than simple negligence involved in a death, prosecutors said. This charge includes a firearm enhancement, which adds a mandatory penalty of five years in jail.
Baldwin has been less than cooperative with authorities at certain times during the investigation, particularly as it pertained to handing over his cell phone for inspection.
