Actor Alec Baldwin will be officially charged with involuntary manslaughter for the accidental shooting death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on the set of the Western film “Rust,” along with Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, the firearms overseer.
While on the set, Baldwin was reportedly holding the gun in rehearsal when it was accidentally discharged, fatally shooting Hutchins. District Attorney Mary Carmack-Altwies said in a statement about charging Baldwin and Gutierrez Reed the following;
“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.”
The statement went on to say, “On my watch, no one is above the law, and everyone deserves justice.” Both Baldwin and Gutierrez-Reed have been charged with two counts of involuntary manslaughter, a felony punishable by up to a year and a half in jail and a $5,000 fine.
Luke Nikas, Baldwin’s attorney also released a statement about the new charges, “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.”