Alec Baldwin has just been charged with involuntary manslaughter as part of the investigation into the death of Halyna Hutchins. The cinematographer died on October 21, 2021, after being shot by a gun the actor was holding at the time while rehearsing a scene on the set of Rush in New Mexico.
Mary Carmack-Altwies, U.S. Attorney for the First Judicial District of New Mexico, announced in statements picked up by CNN that she would file charges against the actor, whom she accuses of committing involuntary manslaughter. She also decided to file the same charges against gun owner Hanna Gutierrez-Reed, after reviewing the full report filed by the Santa Fe County Sheriff's Office:
Rust actor and producer Alec Baldwin and Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, will each be charged with two counts of involuntary manslaughter in the death of Halyna Hutchins on the film set of the 2021 movie in Santa Fe County.
The Santa Fe County Sheriff's Department have been investigating over the last year how the gun and bullets got on to the film set. In fact, Fox News reported that it is believed that along with Baldwin and Gutierrez-Reed, assistant director Dave Halls was the only other person to handle the gun.
Alec Baldwin denies responsibility
Baldwin, however, denies responsibility for the accident. He claimed during an interview shortly after the shooting that he did not pull the trigger of the gun, but instead had pulled the safety of the gun back as far as he could and then released it, but at no time did he pull the trigger.
The lawsuit against the three was filed on February 15, 2022. At the time, the lawsuit named Baldwin and others who are "responsible for the safety on set." Brian Panish, the family's attorney called out "reckless behavior and cost-cutting" which ultimately led to Hutchins' death.
Involved parties respond to involuntary manslaughter charge
The team of lawyers in charge of Alec Baldwin's defense were quick to respond to the accusation that the actor is facing almost two years after the death of Halyna Hutchins. It did so through a press release picked up by Daily Wire in which Luke Nikas, Baldwin's defense attorney and spokesman, criticized the accusation of involuntary manslaughter against his client:
This decision distorts Halyna Hutchins’ tragic death and represents a terrible miscarriage of justice. Mr. Baldwin had no reason to believe there was a live bullet in the gun – or anywhere on the movie set. He 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.
Meanwhile, Brian Panish, attorney for Hutchins' family was pleased to see that the prosecutor for the First Judicial District of New Mexico decided to charge Alec Baldwin with involuntary manslaughter:
We want to thank the Santa Fe Sheriff and the District Attorney for concluding their thorough investigation and determining that charges for involuntary manslaughter are warranted, for the killing of Halyna Hutchins with conscious disregard for human life. Our independent investigation also supports that charges are warranted. It is a comfort to the family that, in New Mexico, no one is above the law. We support the charges, will fully cooperate with this prosecution, and fervently hope the justice system works to protect the public and hold accountable those who break the law.
