Actor and producer Alec Baldwin charged with manslaughter in in deadly 2021 shooting on in set of western film Rust, prosecutors in New Mexico announced Thursday. Gunsmith who kept track of firearms on in set Hannah Gutierrez Reid, also charging with manslaughter.
Baldwin was holding gun during rehearsal, when he was exhausted, killing cinematographer Galina Hutchins.
“After careful review of evidence and laws of state of New Mexico, I have determined that there is enough evidence to file criminal accusations against Alec Baldwin and others of film crew for Rust,” District Attorney Mary Carmack-Oltvis said. in statement released on Thursday morning. “My watch doesn’t have one above the law and everyone deserves justice.”
Hutchins was hit by a gunshot during installation. for scene in ranch on outskirts of Santa Fe on On October 21, 2021, Baldwin pointed a gun at Hutchins when gun went off, killing her and injuring director Joel Souza.
Baldwin and Gutierrez-Reed indicted with two bills of manslaughter, a felony in the fourth degree, punishable up to year and half in jail and a $5,000 fine. accusations also include a provision that can result in mandatory five years in prison because the crime was committed with a gun.
Both points are related to shooting of Hutchins, Carmack-Oltvis said. Manslaughter may be associated with killing it occurs when the defendant does something legal but dangerous and acts carelessly or recklessly. No charges are being laid in shooting of Souza.
CBS News Legal Officer Jessica Levinson, professor at Loyola Law School in Los Angeles, said it was important to understand Hutchins’ opinion. death was not intentional.
“We’re talking about a potentially legal act you’re doing in but you have shown criminal negligence,” said Levinson. – So, for For example, if you go to shoot with friends and you don’t keep gun properly and you don’t exercise due care and you should knew that something dangerous could happen, and you accidentally kill friend you can be blamed with This is manslaughter.”
Carmack-Oltvis says charges will be filed by the end of January, and that Baldwin and Gutierrez Reed will be given a summons to appear in court. She said prosecutors refuse grand jury and rely on judge to determine whether probable cause to move to court.
Levinson said the hearing would be a “very important” part of long process. She also noted that it was possible the judge could toss one of accusations.
“Facing these accusations is serious,” Levinson said. “This will more seriously… if we pass this initial threshold where the judge says yes either one or both of these charges of manslaughter go forward.”
Carmack-Oltvis said that the courts usually schedule such hearings within 60 days of accusations are made.
Baldwin’s lawyer, Luke Nikas, called the allegations a “terrible miscarriage”. of justice.”
“Mr Baldwin didn’t have reason believe that was live bullet in in gun – or anywhere on in movie setNikas said. – He relied on professionals with who did he work who assured him of gun did not have live rounds. We will fight these accusations and we will win.”
Lawyers for Gutierrez-Reid said she did not commit manslaughter and called the shooting a “tragic accident”.
“These accusations are result of very faulty investigation and inaccurate understanding of in full facts,” said Jason Bowles and Todd Bullion. in statement. “We intend to bring full truth to light and trust that Hannah will be rehabilitated of jury wrongdoing.”
Beyond the accusations, Carmack-Oltvis announced a plea agreement with assistant director David Halls for charge of careless use of a deadly weapon. Under the agreement, Halls will serve a suspended sentence and six months of probation.
“If any one of these three people “Alec Baldwin, Hannah Gutierrez-Reed or David Halls did their job, Halina Hutchins would be alive today,” said Andrea Reeb. special the prosecutor assigned to the case said in statement. “It is so simple.”
Levinson pointed out that possible the case cannot be brought before a jury. “At every step along way … if there plea deal with on table, Alec Baldwin may consider plea deal,” she said.
Representative for Hutchins family — widower Matthew Hutchins and son Andros – thanked the authorities for chasing accusations.
“It’s a consolation for family which, in New Mexico, no one above the law,” said spokesman Brian Panish. in statement. “We support charges, will fully cooperate with this is a prosecution, and we fervently hope that justice system working on defense public and hold accountable those who To break the law.”
Mat Hayward/Getty Images
family settled lawsuit against manufacturers under an agreement aimed at resuming filming with Matthew’s involvement as an executive producer.
Santa Fe County Sheriff Adan Mendoza, who led the initial investigation into the Hutchins case. death described “degree of neglect” on movie set. But he left decisions about the potential criminal allegations of prosecutors after delivery results of year-long investigation in October. This report does not include how live ammunition injury up on movie set.
Taking control of investigation, Carmack-Oltvis received emergency request for $300,000 for the state must pay for a special prosecutor, special investigator and other specialists and personnel.
Baldwin is famous for his role in “30 Rock” and “Hunting for Red October” and its impression of former President Donald Trump on “Saturday Night Live,” described killing of Hutchins like “tragic accident.”
He aspired clear his name sue people involved in processing and submission of the loaded gun what was given to him on set. Baldwin, also co-producer on “Rust,” he said gun was safe.
In his lawsuit, Baldwin stated that while working on camera corners with Hutchins during a rehearsal for scene, he pointed to gun in her direction and pulled out back and fired a hammer of the gun that unloaded.
Office in New Mexico of medical investigator determined that the shooting was an accident after finishing of autopsy and review of reported by law enforcement.
The New Mexico Bureau of Occupational Health and Safety charges maximum Great against Rust Movie Productions founded on caustic story of safety failures, including evidence that production managers took limited or no action to fix two misfires of blank cartridges on set before fatal shooting.
Rust Movie Productions continues challenge the basis of a Regulators fined $137,000 who production managers say on in set failed to follow standard industry protocols for firearms safety.
Gunsmith Gutierrez Reid was the subject of many of examination in case, along with with independent ammunition supplier. Advocate for Gutierrez Reed said the gunsmith didn’t put live round in in gun who killed Hutchins, and believes she was a victim of sabotage. The authorities said they found no evidence of which.
Investigators initially found 500 rounds of ammunition on movie set on outskirts of Santa Fe – mix of pacifiers, mannequin rounds and what turned out live rounds. Industry experts said live rounds should never be on set.
In April 2022, the Santa Fe Sheriff’s Department released the find. of files including lapel camera video of mortally wounded Hutchins slipped in and out of consciousness, as an evacuation helicopter flew in. Witness interviews, emails, text conversations, inventories of ammo and hundreds of photos are rounded out this collection of proof.
government workplace safety regulators said that immediately gun-safety concerns were allayed when Rust stopped filming and that a return to filming in New Mexico will be followed new safety inspections.
“Rust” was besieged by disputes from the side start in beginning of October 2021. Seven crew members passed off in set just hours front fatal shooting in the midst of discord over working conditions.
Hutchins death influenced the negotiations over safety provisions in The team involved in making the film union contracts with Hollywood producers and pushed other filmmakers to choose computer-generated images of shooting, not real weapon with blank cartridges to minimize risks.
