Alec Baldwin To Be Charged With Involuntary Manslaughter Over ‘Rust’ Shooting
Image Source: Fox Business
Actor Alec Baldwin and the Armorer, Hannah Gutierrez Reed, will be charged with two counts of involuntary manslaughter for their roles in the death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on the set during the filming of the western film Rust in 2021. Hutchins was shot and killed by a live round from a prop gun on set. The film director, Joel Souza, was also injured in the incident. Baldwin has maintained that the gun misfired on the set but that he did not pull the trigger saying, “I don’t know what happened on that set. I don’t know how that bullet arrived in that gun. I don’t know.”
District Attorney Mary Carmack-Altwies announced these charges early Thursday, asserting that they will be filed by the end of the month. The pair could receive up to 18 months in jail and a $5,000 fine if convicted. They will be tried by a jury. If they are convicted, the district attorney says that “they will only be sentenced to one count.” Attorneys for both parties intend to fight the charges and win in court. The assistant director, David Halls, pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge of “negligent use of a deadly weapon” as he was the individual who handed Baldwin the gun just prior to the accident. Per the plea deal, he was sentenced to serve six months of probation.
RELATED:
The New Mexico Chief Medical Investigator stated that the cause of death was a “gunshot wound of [the] chest” and listed the manner of death as an “accident.” During the FBI forensic investigation, the gun was not able to be fired during testing without pulling the trigger while the gun was cocked. However, the report says that while testing, the gun eventually malfunctioned after internal parts fractured. In that circumstance, it was noted that the gun did fire in the cocked position without pulling the trigger.
Luke Nikas, Alec Baldwin’s attorney, said, “Mr. Baldwin had no reason to believe there was a live bullet in the gun - or anywhere on the movie set.” He went on to say that Baldwin “relied on the professionals with whom he worked, who assured him the gun did not have live rounds. We will fight these charges, and we will win.” Gutierrez Reed’s lawyer said, “Hannah is, and has always been, very emotional and sad about this tragic accident,” Todd Bullion said. “But she did not commit involuntary manslaughter.”
The D.A. feels that she has sufficient evidence to present the case to a jury despite the defense’s claims otherwise. Everyone involved appears to blame someone other than themselves for this tragedy. The accident has initiated a movement for more safety protocols on movie sets involving firearms.
READ NEXT:
Latest News
Featured
