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| Alec Baldwin fired the fatal shot Photo: Gage Skidmore |
Alec Baldwin is facing criminal charges of involuntary manslaughter over the 2021 incident in which cinematographer Halyna Hutchins was shot dead on the set of the film Rust. The bullet came from a prop gun used by the actor. Director Joel Souza was hit in the shoulder at the same time.
Hannah Gutierrez Reed, who was in charge of gun safety on the set, faces the same charge. In California, involuntary manslaughter is defined as causing the death of another person due to criminal negligence. If convicted, Baldwin and Reed could face up to four years in prison along with a fine of up to $10,000.
In a statement, Santa Fe's District Attorney Mary Carmack-Altwies said that no-one is above the law. Charges are expected to be formally filed in February, following which the case will proceed to court.
The production company behind the film, Rust Movie Productions, was fined $139,793 in April 2022 when the New Mexico safety bureau found that serious breaches of safety protocols had been left unaddressed in the run-up to the incident.
Hutchins, 42, was a rising star in the industry and had received extensive praise for her work. Her husband, Matt Hutchins, has condemned Baldwin's failure to take responsibility for the shooting. Baldwin has repeatedly denied that he is in any way to blame.
