Alec Baldwin manslaughter charges being dropped in deadly Rust shooting
- Oops!Something went wrong.Please try again later.
Special prosecutors in New Mexico are dropping involuntary manslaughter charges against Alec Baldwin stemming from the 2021 shooting death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on the set of the film Rust, they have confirmed.
Prosecutors Kari T. Morrissey and Jason J. Lewis said "new facts were revealed that demand further investigation and forensic analysis" ahead of the preliminary hearing on May 3 in a statement obtained by EW.
The decision "does not absolve Mr. Baldwin of criminal culpability and charges may be refiled," they clarified. The charges against Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, the armorer who worked on Rust, remain unchanged.
Baldwin's attorneys Luke Nikas and Alex Spiro said in a statement to EW, "We are pleased with the decision to dismiss the case against Alec Baldwin, and we encourage a proper investigation into the facts and circumstances of this tragic accident."
Mark Sagliocco/Getty Images Alec Baldwin
Lawyers for Gutierrez-Reed, who was also charged with involuntary manslaughter, said Thursday that they "fully expect" their client to be exonerated.
"The new special prosecutor team has taken a very diligent and thorough approach to the entire investigation, which we welcome and have always welcomed," attorneys Jason Bowles and Todd Bullion said in a statement to EW. "They are seeking the truth and we are also. The truth about what happened will come out, and the questions that we have long sought answers for will be answered."
Hutchins was killed and Rust director Joel Souza was wounded on Oct. 21, 2021, during production of the Western, when a gun being held by Baldwin discharged. The actor, who was also serving as a producer on the film, had been told the gun was "cold," meaning it did not contain live ammunition. Baldwin has also maintained that he did not pull the trigger.
Baldwin was charged with involuntary manslaughter in January and pleaded not guilty. Prosecutors dropped firearm enhancement from the charges against him in February. A special prosecutor in the case stepped down last month, leading to the appointment of two new special prosecutors, Morrissey and Lewis.
Rust producers agreed earlier this year to pay a civil fine of $100,000 for "serious" workplace safety breaches prior to the fatal shooting. Three crew members have also filed lawsuits against Baldwin and the film's producers, as have Hutchins' parents and sister.
Hutchins' widower, Matthew Hutchins, sued Baldwin and other crew members on behalf of himself and their 9-year-old son early last year, but a settlement was reached in October. As part of the settlement, Matthew Hutchins will serve as an executive producer when Rust resumes production. It is slated to do so this week in Montana. Baldwin and Souza are still attached to the film.
Additional reporting by Nick Romano.
This article was updated with a formal statement from New Mexico special prosecutors.
Related content:
