After criminal charges against Hollywood actor Alec Baldwin connected to a fatal shooting on the set of the movie “Rust” – resulting in the death of the film’s cinematographer and the wounding of its director – were dropped, new reports indicate that involuntary manslaughter charges have been reinstated against the beleaguered Long Island native.
On October 21, 2021, Baldwin, 65, was filming on the set of the western movie “Rust” in Santa Fe, New Mexico when he discharged a Colt .45 revolver being used as a prop – that had somehow been loaded with a real bullet – killing cinematographer Halyna Hutchins, 42, and injuring director Joel Souza, 48.
After an investigation, Baldwin was charged by New Mexico prosecutors with involuntary manslaughter and involuntary manslaughter in commission of a lawful act; an additional enhancement charge relating to an individual “brandishing” a firearm was also included, but later dropped.
Baldwin had always maintained his innocence and had pleaded not guilty to the charges, all of which were ultimately dropped in April 2023; if convicted, Baldwin could have faced up to 18 months in prison.
However, on Friday, January 19, both Baldwin and “Rust” armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed – who oversaw the weapons on the movie set – were indicted by a grand jury in New Mexico once again over Hutchins' death.
“The above named defendant did cause the death of Halyna Hutchins by an act committed with the total disregard of indifference for the safety of others,” the indicted read.
The new charges may be a result of an August 2023 report released by Lucien Haag of Forensic Science Services in Arizona, who stated that his team's examination of the revolver used in the shooting – as well as the spent cartridge – revealed that the trigger had indeed been pulled at the time of the discharge, despite Baldwin's repeated claims that he had never done so.
“Although Alec Baldwin repeatedly denies pulling the trigger, given the tests, findings and observations reported here, the trigger had to be pulled or depressed sufficiently to release the fully cocked or retracted hammer of the evidence revolver,” the report said. “This fatal incident was the consequence of the hammer being manually retracted to its fully rearward and cocked position followed, at some point, by the pull or rearward depression of the trigger."
Based on the report, New Mexico special prosecutor Kari Morrissey noted at the time that an official announcement as to whether or not her office would pursue renewed charged against Baldwin would be coming at an undetermined time in the near future.
Both Baldwin and Gutierrez-Reed have pleaded Not Guilty. If convicted, they could each face 18 months in prison.