In a significant development in the ongoing legal saga surrounding the tragic shooting on the set of the movie "Rust," actor Alec Baldwin has been re-indicted for involuntary manslaughter in the death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins. The indictment, handed down by a grand jury, revives the case that had earlier seen charges against Baldwin dropped.
The indictment charges Baldwin with involuntary manslaughter under two different statutes, both of which are fourth-degree felonies. This re-indictment comes after an extensive investigation by special prosecutors who, in October 2023, stated their belief that Baldwin had "criminal culpability" in the fatal shooting.
The incident occurred on the Santa Fe set in October 2021, when Baldwin was rehearsing a scene with a gun that discharged, fatally striking Hutchins and injuring director Joel Souza. Baldwin, who was initially charged with two counts of involuntary manslaughter, had seen these charges dropped in April 2023 by special prosecutors, who cited the ongoing nature of their investigation at the time.
Reacting to the latest indictment, Baldwin's attorneys, Luke Nikas and Alex Spiro of Quinn Emanuel, stated, "We look forward to our day in court." The charge carries a potential sentence of up to 18 months in prison if convicted.
The case against Baldwin has been marked by legal and forensic complexities. Baldwin has maintained that he did not pull the trigger of the gun, a claim contradicted by an FBI accidental discharge test which concluded the gun "could not be made to fire without a pull of the trigger."
Hannah Gutierrez, the "Rust" armorer, also faces charges of involuntary manslaughter, along with an additional charge of tampering with evidence. Prosecutors allege she handed off a small bag of cocaine following her interview with police on the day of the shooting. Gutierrez's attorneys have sought to have her charges dismissed, citing jurisdictional and structural issues, but their motion was denied by State District Court Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer in August 2023.
The Hutchins family, represented by attorney Gloria Allred, expressed their anticipation of the criminal trial. "Our clients have always sought the truth about what happened on the day that Halyna Hutchins was tragically shot and killed," Allred told Fox News Digital. "They continue to seek the truth in our civil lawsuit for them and they also would like there to be accountability in the criminal justice system."
The renewed charges against Baldwin come as new footage emerged, showing him firing a prop gun on the film set, further complicating the narrative around the incident. The case has sparked intense debate over safety protocols on film sets and the responsibility of actors in handling firearms.
As the legal proceedings progress, the entertainment industry and the public at large will closely watch the outcome of a case that has raised critical questions about safety and accountability in film production. Baldwin's trial is set to be a focal point in these ongoing discussions, with potential implications for how on-set safety is managed in the future.
