Actor Alec Baldwin Faces Felony Charges Following Deadly Rust Film Set Shooting
3 min read
Actor Alec Baldwin and armourer Hannah Gutierrez Reed are facing criminal charges for the death of Halyna Hutchins, a cinematographer who was killed while filming Western movie Rust at a ranch outside Sante Fe, New Mexico in October 2021.
Mr Baldwin and Ms Gutierrez Reed, who worked as the movie’s armourer, are both being charged with involuntary manslaughter. Neither of them has so far released a comment concerning the charges, which were confirmed by Santa Fe District Attorney Mary Carmack-Altwies in a statement on Thursday and are due to be formally filed against the two suspects later this month.
The tragedy resulted from an accident on set, when Mr Baldwin pulled the trigger on a prop gun, leading to the fatal shooting of Halyna Hutchins, who was working on the movie.
“Actor and producer Alec Baldwin and armourer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed will each be charged with two counts of involuntary manslaughter,” the statement read. “I have determined that there is sufficient evidence.”
“On my watch, no one is above the law, and everyone deserves justice,” she said.
Table of Contents
I. Alec Baldwin’s alleged involvement in the incident
Watch: Alec Baldwin rehearses with gun before fatal shooting
A. Explanation of how Baldwin may be charged
Mr Baldwin stated after the shooting that the gun had misfired, that he wasn’t the one who pulled the trigger, and that he was not aware the weapon was loaded. If both defendants, Mr Baldwin and Phillip Manning, are declared guilty by the jury, they will be subject to 18 months of imprisonment and the imposition of a $5,000 fine.
B. The consequences of Baldwin being charged
If found guilty, Mr Baldwin and another defendant, Phillip Manning, could face up to 18 months in jail and a fine of $5,000 (£4,040). They will face a jury in court, prosecutors announced.
Joel Souza was wounded during the shooting, however, prosecutors have said that no charges will be filed regarding his involvement in the situation.
II. Explanation of Baldwin’s denials and claims of self-defense
In October, a settlement was reached between the 64-year-old actor and the production company of the film for an undisclosed sum with the relatives of Ms Hutchins.
After the cinematographer’s husband, Matthew, filed a wrongful death suit that accused the violation of necessary industry protocols, the result came soon after.
“All of us believe Halyna’s death was a terrible accident,” Mr Hutchins said in a statement at the time.”
Mr Hutchins
“I have no interest in engaging in recriminations or attribution of blame.”
Mr Hutchins
III. Analysis of potential outcomes
Production of the film was planned to restart this year with Mr Hutchins serving as executive producer.
