Alec Baldwin and armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed are being charged with involuntary manslaughter for the accidental death of cinematographer Halyan Hutchins on the set of the film ‘Rust’.
According to prosecuters, if found guilty, Baldwin and Reed would face up to 18 months in prison and a $5000 fine.
New Mexico First Judicial District Attorney Mary Carmack-Altwies has said that the decision to charge Baldwin was made after doing a thorough review of the evidence and laws. Stating that no one is above the law, she said, “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. On my watch, no one is above the law, and everyone deserves justice.”
Baldwin’s lawyers have responded by pointing out the charge was ” terrible miscarriage of justice” as the actor had relied on professionals on set to assure him he can pull the trigger
“Mr. Baldwin had no reason to believe there was a live bullet in the gun — or anywhere on the movie set,” he said.
“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,” the actor’s lawyers said.
Baldwin was handed the gun by Assistant-Director Dave Halls, who told him that it was cold- which means a weapon is safe to use. Baldwin then pointed the gun at Hutchins and pulled the trigger, hitting the cinematographer in the chest. She died of her wounds in the hospital. The incident sent shock waves around Hollywood and called for better safety protocols on film sets.
In his first sit down interview with ABC, the ‘Beetlejuice’ actor released details of how the accident happened when Hutchins was guiding Baldwin on how to hold the gun for a certain angle in a film scene:
“So then I said to her ‘Now in this scene, I’m going to cock the gun.’ I said, ‘Do you want to see that?’ And she said, ‘Yes.’ So I take the gun, and I start to cock the gun. I’m not going to pull the trigger,” Baldwin told Geroge Stephanopoulos. “I said, ‘Do you see the shot? ‘Well just cheat it down and tilt it down a little bit like that.’ And I cock the gun and I go ‘Can you see that? Can you see that? Can you see that?’ And she says — and I let go of the hammer of the gun and the gun goes off.”
