The Hollywood Reporter has confirmed that criminal charges are being filed against actor Alec Baldwin for his connection to the fatal shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on the set of Rust.
Both he and armourer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed are now facing two counts each of involuntary manslaughter, with both potentially facing a maximum of 18 months in prison. Assistant Director David Halls chose to sign a plea deal, meaning he's received a suspended sentence and six months of probation.
Prosecutors aren't letting this one go, and the announcement comes just weeks after the cast and crew returned to set in order to finish the movie (that decision was made following a settlement between Rust Movie Productions and Hutchins' family).
"After a thorough review of the evidence and the laws of the state of New Mexico, I have determined that there is sufficient evidence to file criminal charges against Alec Baldwin and other members of the ‘Rust’ film crew," Mary Carmack-Altwies, the district attorney that serves Santa Fe County, said today, "On my watch, no one is above the law, and everyone deserves justice."
Reading between the lines, it sounds like she intends to make sure both Baldwin and Gutierrez-Reed receive as severe a punishment as possible. The former has talked publicly about what happened on numerous occasions, denying culpability after being handed a gun he claims to have been told did not contain live ammunition.
An FBI investigation alleged that Baldwin must have pulled the trigger, and he, various crew members, and the movie in general remains surrounded by countless lawsuits and legal battles. It's a messy situation and one that is clearly going to continue playing out over the coming months.
Baldwin has yet to personally respond to this news, though the Mission: Impossible star's lawyers have issued a statement.
"This decision distorts Halyna Hutchins’ tragic death and represents a terrible miscarriage of justice," says attorney Luke Nikas. "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."
Stay tuned for updates as we have them.