Alec Baldwin 'Will Fight' Involuntary Manslaughter Charges to Be Filed in Rust Case, Attorney Says

Alec Baldwin's attorney is calling the new charges that are set to be filed against him a "terrible miscarriage of justice."

On Thursday, Santa Fe County District Attorney Mary Carmack-Altwies and special prosecutor Andrea Reeb announced that Baldwin, 64, and armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed will both be charged with two counts of involuntary manslaughter in the October 2021 on-set death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins. The charges will be formally filed before the end of the month.

In a statement to PEOPLE, Baldwin's attorney Luke Nikas of Quinn Emanuel said, "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," Nikas added. "He relied on the professionals with whom he worked, who assured him the gun did not have live rounds."

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"We will fight these charges, and we will win," the attorney concluded.

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

Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Alec Baldwin

Rust assistant director David Halls signed a plea agreement for the charge of negligent use of a deadly weapon, according to a Thursday press release.

"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 a statement. "On my watch, no one is above the law, and everyone deserves justice."

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Mark Sagliocco/Getty Images Alec Baldwin

RELATED: Alec Baldwin to Face Involuntary Manslaughter Charges in Rust Shooting Death of Halyna Hutchins

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."

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, 49, was also wounded in the incident, and Baldwin maintains that he did not pull the trigger. (No charges were made in Souza's shooting.)

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.

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."

RELATED VIDEO: FBI Investigation Determines Alec Baldwin Must Have Pulled Trigger in Rust Shooting: Report

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, 39. "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."