✕ Close 'There's nothing we can do to bring his mother back': Alec Baldwin on Rust movie shooting
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Alec Baldwin has been charged with involuntary manslaughter over the 2021 death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on the movie set of Rust.
The actor is one of three cast and crew members charged over the accidental shooting, New Mexico first judicial district attorney Mary Carmack-Altwies announced on Thursday (19 January).
The first assistant director on Rust, David Halls, has agreed to plead guilty to the charge of negligent use of a deadly weapon.
Meanwhile, the film’s amourer Hannah Gutierrez Reed has also been charged with involuntary manslaughter in the incident.
Baldwin’s attorney has issued a statement in response to the decision. In a statement to The Independent, Luke Nikas said: “This decision distorts Halyna Hutchins’ tragic death and represents a terrible miscarriage of justice.”
Nikas said that they intend to “fight” the charges, and “win”.
The decision comes more than 15 months after the fatal shooting in October 2021, which occurred when a prop gun held by Baldwin discharged on set. A single bullet struck director Joel Souza in the shoulder before fatally striking Hutchins in the chest.
Baldwin has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing in the shooting. “I would never point a gun at anyone and pull the trigger at them. Never,” he told ABC News in December 2021.
The actor has maintained that he was told the gun was “cold”, meaning it had no live ammunition, and that as he cocked the gun it went off without him pulling the trigger.
Follow below for live updates ahead of today’s verdict.