Alec Baldwin Faces Trial for Involuntary Manslaughter in Fatal "Rust" Shooting

Rust Movie Shooting Trial Of Alec Baldwin

Nearly three years after the tragic incident on the set of "Rust," actor Alec Baldwin is set to stand trial for involuntary manslaughter. The shooting resulted in the death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins and injured director Joel Souza.
Baldwin was rehearsing with a prop gun on October 21, 2021, at the Bonanza Creek Ranch in Santa Fe County, New Mexico, when the gun went off, killing Hutchins and wounding Souza. Baldwin has consistently maintained that he did not pull the trigger, stating in multiple interviews that the gun misfired. "I was taking direction from Hutchins and pulled the hammer back as far as I could without cocking it," Baldwin told ABC News' George Stephanopoulos.
However, FBI testing of the .45-caliber Colt prop revolver indicated that the gun would not have discharged without the trigger being pulled. Baldwin's attorneys recently argued that the firearm was damaged during forensic testing, but their motion to dismiss the case was denied.
Initially, Baldwin faced charges of involuntary manslaughter and a firearm enhancement charge, the latter of which was eventually dropped, reducing his potential prison sentence by five years. In March 2023, special prosecutor Andrea Reed stepped down, and Santa Fe District Attorney Mary Carmack-Altwies resigned from the case. Special prosecutors Kari T. Morrissey and Jason Lewis were appointed to take over.
In April 2023, the charges against Baldwin were dismissed due to "new facts in the case," according to prosecutors. However, they noted that this did not absolve Baldwin of criminal culpability, and the charges could be refiled. Over the following months, the special prosecutors continued to investigate. In October 2023, Baldwin and the prosecutors discussed a potential plea deal, but it was rescinded. In January 2024, a New Mexico grand jury indicted Baldwin on one count of involuntary manslaughter.
Baldwin's attorneys, Luke Nikas and Alex Spiro, stated, "We look forward to our day in court."
Following Baldwin's indictment, SAG-AFTRA, the union representing over 150,000 actors, criticized the decision to re-charge him.
The film's armorer, Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, was also charged with involuntary manslaughter and tampering with evidence. She was found guilty in April and is serving an 18-month jail sentence. Gutierrez-Reed asserted her Fifth Amendment right during a pretrial interview in May, and it is unclear if she will testify at Baldwin's trial. Assistant director Dave Halls, who pleaded no contest to a misdemeanor charge of negligent use of a deadly weapon, is expected to testify. Baldwin has maintained that Halls declared the gun "cold," indicating it had no live ammunition before handing it to him.
Prosecutors have accused Baldwin of providing contradictory versions of events. "Every time Mr. Baldwin spoke, a different version of events emerged," stated a court filing from the special prosecutors this spring.
The trial, beginning with jury selection, is expected to last about two weeks.
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