Halyna Hutchins' Family Supports Criminal Charges Against Alec Baldwin: 'No One Is Above the Law'

Rachel Luna/WireImage; Mat Hayward/Getty/AMC Networks Alec Baldwin; Halyna Hutchins

The family of Hayla Hutchins, the cinematographer shot and killed on the set of Rust, stands behind the prosecutor's decision to file criminal charges against Alec Baldwin and Hannah Gutierrez-Reed.

On Thursday, Santa Fe County District Attorney Mary Carmack-Altwies and special prosecutor Andrea Reeb announced that producer/star Baldwin and armorer Gutierrez-Reed will both be charged with two counts of involuntary manslaughter. The charges will be formally filed by the end of the month.

In a statement obtained by PEOPLE, Brian J. Panish, an attorney for the Hutchins family, says on behalf of the family, "We want to thank the Santa Fe Sheriff and the District Attorney for concluding their thorough investigation and determining that charges for involuntary manslaughter are warranted for the killing of Halyna Hutchins with conscious disregard for human life."

"Our independent investigation also supports charges are warranted. It is a comfort to the family that, in New Mexico, no one is above the law," Panish added. "We support the charges, will fully cooperate with this prosecution and fervently hope the justice system works to protect the public and hold accountable those who break the law."

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Assistant director David Halls signed a plea agreement for the charge of negligent use of a deadly weapon, according to a statement released by Carmack-Altwies and Reeb.

"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," Carmack-Altwies said in the statement. "On my watch, no one is above the law, and everyone deserves justice."

RELATED:  Alec Baldwin Shares Photo of Halyna Hutchins on Anniversary of Rust Tragedy: 'One Year Ago Today'

Fred Hayes/Getty Halyna Hutchins

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Reeb added, "If any one of these three people — Alec Baldwin, Hannah Gutierrez-Reed or David Halls — had done their job, Halyna Hutchins would be alive today. It's that simple. The evidence clearly shows a pattern of criminal disregard for safety on the Rust film set. In New Mexico, there is no room for film sets that don't take our state's commitment to gun safety and public safety seriously."

Baldwin's attorney Luke Nikas of Quinn Emanuel said in a statement Thursday, "This decision distorts Halyna Hutchins' tragic death and represents a terrible miscarriage of justice. 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."

Jason Bowles and Todd J. Bullion, attorneys for Gutierrez-Reed, said in a statement, "Hannah is, and has always been, very emotional and sad about this tragic accident. But she did not commit involuntary manslaughter. These charges are the result of a very flawed investigation, and an inaccurate understanding of the full facts. We intend to bring the full truth to light and believe Hannah will be exonerated of wrongdoing by a jury."

Hutchins, 42, was shot and killed Oct. 21, 2021, after a prop gun held by Baldwin that turned out to contain live rounds discharged. Director Joel Souza was also wounded in the incident.

In October, Baldwin and other Rust producers settled a wrongful death lawsuit filed by Hutchins' widower Matthew. Along with the settlement, the team agreed to complete the movie with Matthew now on board as an executive producer. Production on Rust was said to resume in January 2023.

Mark Sagliocco/Getty Images Alec Baldwin

Matthew, who shares son Andros with Hutchins, said in a statement at the time, "I have no interest in engaging in recriminations or attribution of blame (to the producers or Mr. Baldwin). All of us believe Halyna's death was a terrible accident. I am grateful that the producers and the entertainment community have come together to pay tribute to Halyna's final work."

In December, Baldwin's wife Hilaria Baldwin told Extra that the October 2021 incident weighs heavy on their family.

"I worry about him," she said. "… I mean, can you imagine? Nobody can. There was so much confusion to understand what had happened."

"When you go through something hard, you know not every day is going to be the same," continued Hilaria. "You have moments in the day that are very hard. Nights are hard. Nightmares are hard. So I'm just there, and I say, 'I'm here and I'm going to take care of you,' and I said that from the moment we realized what had happened."

She added, "We're not okay. We can't be okay. No one is okay. It was, and is, a tragedy that nobody could ever have imagined. I mean, the loss of her, Halyna. Her son, a little son, her family, her co-workers, the people who loved her, her fans. I mean, she was an incredible, incredible woman in so many different ways."