Just over six months after criminal charges were dropped against Alec Baldwin for the 2021 shooting of Rust cinematographer Halyna Hutchins, a startling turn of events has put him back in legal jeopardy. Special Prosecutors Kari Morrissey and Jason Lewis revealed on Tuesday that they had unearthed new evidence, prompting them to consider involuntary manslaughter charges against the actor.
This aerial shot shows the 'Rust' movie-set church where the shooting occurred. The Bonanza Creek Ranch outside Santa Fe, New Mexico has appeared in dozens of Western movies and TV series.
“After extensive investigation over the past several months, additional facts have come to light that we believe show Mr. Baldwin has criminal culpability in Halyna Hutchins’s death and Joel Souza’s shooting,” stated Morrissey and Lewis. The tragic incident occurred in the indie Western film ‘Rust’ set in New Mexico on October 21, two years ago.
This revelation comes as a heavy blow to Alec Baldwin, who has consistently maintained that he never pulled the firearm trigger that resulted in Hutchins’ tragic death and Joel Souza’s injuries. Although Baldwin had seen criminal charges against him dropped in April, the appointment of new special prosecutors had always left the door open for the potential re-filing of manslaughter or other charges if new evidence emerged, which appears to be the case now.
Serge Svetnoy, a crew member of the "Rust" production, posted on Facebook what he described as the final picture of Halyna Hutchins on the movie's New Mexico set. In the photo, Hutchins can be seen wearing a tan hat and headphones with a puffy jacket, positioned to the right of the film camera, while Alec Baldwin is visible in the background. The exact date of this photo remains unclear based on Svetnoy's Facebook post.
The only person facing charges in the Rust case is former armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed. If Alec Baldwin is recharged, he could find himself in a situation similar to Reed’s, potentially subject to a maximum prison term of 18 months and fines of about $5,000 if convicted. Reed herself has pleaded not guilty to the charges of involuntary manslaughter and evidence tampering. Her trial is scheduled for February, but this timeline could be altered if Baldwin is recharged.
This turn of events comes a week after an important ruling that did not favor Baldwin and the Rust production team. On October 10, Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer ordered Rust Movie Productions and Baldwin’s El Dorado Pictures to release internal documents detailing the actor’s role as a producer on the film. These documents, sought by Special Prosecutors Morrissey and Lewis, are intended to shed light on Baldwin’s financial interests, awareness of cost-cutting measures, safety concerns, and crew grievances regarding working conditions and compensation.
With Hannah Gutierrez-Reed no longer part of the production, ‘Rust’ was completed and filmed in Montana earlier this year. It is currently being marketed internationally in search of potential buyers. This means the film may be released as the criminal case against Alec Baldwin is reignited, alongside multiple ongoing civil trials in California and New Mexico.
New Mexico prosecutors may recharge Alec Baldwin for his involvement in the 2021 fatal Rust shooting, sources familiar with the matter told a news outlet on Tuesday, months after prosecutors dropped charges against the actor. pic.twitter.com/CfZbVEDHXB
— Forbes (@Forbes) October 17, 2023
The prospect of involuntary manslaughter charges against Alec Baldwin marks a significant twist in a case that has already captured the public’s attention and ignited debates about firearm safety in the film industry. As this legal saga unfolds, the ultimate decision will rest with a New Mexico grand jury, determining whether Baldwin should stand trial for involuntary manslaughter in connection with the tragic events on the ‘Rust’ film set.
