In connection with the fatal shooting of a cinematographer on a New Mexico film set, actor Alec Baldwin and a weapons expert will face involuntary manslaughter charges, according to prosecutors, who cited a “criminal disregard for safety.”
Baldwin and Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, who oversaw the use of guns on the “Rust” movie set, has been charged, according to a statement from Santa Fe district attorney Mary Carmack-Altwies.
On October 21, 2021, Halyna Hutchins was injured while participating in rehearsals at a ranch outside of Santa Fe.
She passed away shortly after. Hutchins was killed, and director Joel Souza was injured when Baldwin’s revolver went off as he aimed it at Hutchins.
According to the district attorney’s office, assistant director David Halls, who gave Baldwin the gun, has agreed to enter a guilty plea to careless use of a deadly weapon.
Baldwin’s 40-year career included the early blockbuster “The Hunt for Red October,” a starring role in the sitcom “30 Rock,” iconic appearances in Martin Scorsese’s “The Departed,” and a film adaptation of David Mamet’s “Glengary Glen Ross.”
In recent years, he was well-known for portraying former President Donald Trump on “Saturday Night Live.”
The decision to charge Baldwin marked a stunning fall for an A-list actor.
A death resulting from a defendant engaging in an activity that is legal but harmful and acting carelessly or recklessly might be considered involuntary manslaughter.
According to New Mexico law, the offense is a fourth-degree felony, which carries a maximum sentence of 18 months in prison and a $5,000 fine.
Because the crime was committed with a gun, the charges include a clause that might result in a mandatory five-year prison sentence.
According to Carmack-Altwies, Baldwin and Gutierrez-Reed will receive a summons to appear in court, who also stated that charges would be filed before the end of January.
She said that in place of a grand jury, prosecutors would rely on a judge to decide if sufficient evidence exists to proceed to trial.
A “pattern of criminal disregard for safety” was noted on the set, according to Andrea Reeb, a special prosecutor working the case.
“Halyna Hutchins would still be alive today if any of these three individuals—Alec Baldwin, Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, or David Halls—had carried out their duties. Reeb, a newly-sworn Republican state legislator, stated, “It’s that easy.
According to Baldwin’s counsel, the allegations were “a horrific miscarriage of justice.”
There was “no reason” for the actor to think there was a live bullet in the gun or anyplace else on the set.
He trusted the experts with whom he worked when they assured him that the rifle was empty of live ammunition.
In a statement, Luke Nikas said, “We will fight these accusations, and we will prevail.
The allegations were “the consequence of a very defective investigation and an erroneous understanding of the whole facts,” according to Gutierrez-counsel.
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