Santa Fe, New Mexico – Hollywood actor Alec Baldwin has been indicted by a New Mexico grand jury on charges of involuntary manslaughter in relation to the tragic shooting incident on the set of the movie “Rust” in October 2021. This comes after previous charges against Baldwin were dropped in April, but prosecutors revealed new analysis from the gun fired in the incident that contradicts Baldwin’s claims.
According to the analysis, the gun’s trigger must have been pulled or depressed to fire the weapon, undermining Baldwin’s repeated denial of pulling the trigger. The shooting resulted in the death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins and the injury of director Joel Souza. Baldwin, the lead actor, co-producer, and writer of the film, now faces a potential sentence of up to 18 months in prison if convicted.
The incident occurred when Baldwin, holding a prop gun, unintentionally discharged a live round. The investigation revealed that a crew member had failed to properly inspect the gun before it was given to Baldwin for a scene rehearsal. Santa Fe County Sheriff Adan Mendoza stated, “The facts are clear – a weapon was handed to Mr. Baldwin, the weapon is functional and fired a live round killing Ms. Hutchins and injuring Mr. Souza.”
Alec Baldwin has maintained his innocence, asserting that he was unaware the gun contained a live bullet and denying any intentional trigger pull. His lawyers expressed their readiness to present their case in court in response to the recent indictment. Additionally, attorney Gloria Allred, representing Hutchins’ family, emphasized their pursuit of truth and accountability, stating, “The grand jury has decided that there is sufficient evidence to indict Alec Baldwin on the charge of involuntary manslaughter.”
Movie armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, who was responsible for gun safety on the set, has also been charged with involuntary manslaughter and is set to stand trial in February. The grand jury’s decision to indict Baldwin reflects the belief that his actions on the set constituted “extremely reckless acts,” as prosecutors claim.
The case continues to raise questions regarding firearm safety protocols in the film industry and the responsibilities of both actors and crew members. As Baldwin prepares to face trial, the outcome will ultimately be determined by a panel of New Mexico citizens.