A grand jury has charged actor Alec Baldwin with involuntary manslaughter concerning the fatal shooting on the "Rust" film set in October 2021, which left cinematographer Halyna Hutchins dead, KSAT reports. The charge was filed in Santa Fe on Friday after months of new forensic analysis on the weapon used during the rehearsal.
Despite Baldwin's repeated claims that he did not pull the trigger, instead stating he only pulled back the hammer, a report by Lucien Haag of Forensic Science Services in Arizona suggests otherwise. The examination, which used replacement parts to rebuild the gun after the original was damaged during FBI testing, concluded that "the trigger had to be pulled or depressed sufficiently to release the fully cocked or retracted hammer of the evidence revolver," according to Scripps News. This finding contradicts an earlier FBI analysis that found the gun could discharge if force was applied to the uncocked hammer without pulling the trigger.
Baldwin's legal representatives have expressed their intention to contest the charges, stating, "We look forward to our day in court," indicating a potentially vigorous defense. The indictment has rekindled the notion of legal accountability in matters of on-set safety, reviving debates around an actor’s responsibilities and the overall due diligence required in handling firearms during production.
Alongside Baldwin, the case also enveloped the movie's armorer, Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, who pleaded not guilty to involuntary manslaughter and evidence tampering. Her trial is scheduled for February. "Rust" assistant director and safety coordinator David Halls had previously pleaded no contest to unsafe handling of a firearm, and agreed to cooperate in the shooting investigation, while receiving a suspended sentence of six months of probation.
Amidst the legal turmoil, judges have paused several civil lawsuits filed against Baldwin and the "Rust" producers. These lawsuits come from crew members seeking compensation for the events that transpired on set. Meanwhile, Rust Movie Productions has settled a $100,000 fine with state regulators over safety failures, as filming resumed in Montana with Hutchins' widower, Matthew Hutchins, named as an executive producer.
