Alec Baldwin Charged In Rust Shooting

The Associated Press has confirmed that actor Alec Baldwin will be charged with involuntary manslaughter over the shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins, who was killed on a film set of the upcoming Rust when he fired a prop gun that was loaded with real, live ammunition. Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, the film’s firearm specialist, will also be charged with involuntary manslaughter.

Baldwin had been rehearsing a scene for the western when the shooting happened at a ranch near Sante Fe, New Mexico in October 2021.

Earlier Thursday, Santa Fe’s District Attorney Mary Carmack-Altwies announced in a statement that charges would be filed against them by the end of the month. The pair face up to 18 months in jail and a $5,000 fine if convicted. They will be tried by a jury, prosecutors said.

“Actor and producer Alec Baldwin and armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed will each be charged with two counts of involuntary manslaughter,” the statement read. “After a thorough review of the evidence… I have determined that there is sufficient evidence.”

Film director Joel Souza was also wounded in the shooting, but prosecutors said no charges would be filed in connection with that.

After the shooting, Baldwin said the gun had misfired and added that he did not pull the trigger on the gun, and he was not aware that it was loaded. He reached a settlement after being sued by Hutchins’ family in October of last year.

“I don’t know what happened on that set. I don’t know how that bullet arrived in that gun. I don’t know,” Baldwin stated at the time.