Mr. Baldwin was practicing a scene for the Western film Rust when she was shot with a live round of ammunition fired from a prop gun in October 2021 on a ranch outside Sante Fe, New Mexico.
Both Baldwin and the film’s armorer, Hannah Gutierrez Reed, will face charges. Parties’ attorneys stated that they intend to contest the allegations in court.
The accusations were revealed on Thursday by Santa Fe District Attorney Mary Carmack-Altwies, who added that they would be filed by the end of the month.
According to a statement, Alec Baldwin and Hannah Gutierrez Reed, both actor and producer, will face charges of two counts of involuntary manslaughter. The prosecutor stated that there is enough evidence to support the charges. The prosecutor also stated that on her watch, everyone is equal before the law and everyone will receive justice. If convicted, they could face up to 18 months in jail and a fine of $5,000 (£4,040). The trial will be conducted by a jury, as stated by the prosecutors.
The film’s director Joel Souza was also injured in the shooting, but the prosecutors have decided not to file any charges in relation to that. However, the film’s assistant director David Halls pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge of negligent use of a deadly weapon, as stated by the prosecutors. He will serve six months of probation. A lawyer representing the husband of the deceased, Matthew Hutchins, has expressed support for the charges being filed and said it brings comfort to the family that no one is above the law in New Mexico. However, Alec Baldwin’s lawyer, Luke Nikas, has criticized the decision calling it a terrible miscarriage of justice. He claims that Baldwin had no reason to believe there was a live bullet in the gun or on the movie set and that he relied on the professionals on the set who assured him the gun did not have live rounds. The lawyer also stated that they will fight these charges and pursue justice.
