As of: 01/19/2023 6:01 p.m
More than a year ago, a camerawoman was shot and killed while shooting a film with Alec Baldwin. Now the Hollywood star and a gunsmith are to be prosecuted.
US actor Alec Baldwin is to be charged with involuntary manslaughter in connection with a fatal shooting while filming in New Mexico. This was announced by the competent public prosecutor’s office. Armorer on set, Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, will also face charges of involuntary manslaughter.
Baldwin is suing members of the film crew
After evaluating the investigation, there is enough evidence for criminal prosecution, said District Attorney Mary Carmack-Altwies. If convicted, the two face up to 18 months in prison and a fine of $5,000 each, according to the AFP news agency.
The actor only sued members of the film crew in November last year. The lawsuit was directed, among other things, against the weapons master and an assistant director, who handed the actor the weapon loaded with live ammunition, as US media reported at the time. Baldwin accuses the defendants of negligence.
Relatives dropped previous charges
In October 2022, the relatives of the slain camerawoman Halyna Hutchins settled out of court a civil lawsuit against Baldwin and others involved in the “Rust” production. “We all believe Halyna’s death was a terrible accident,” said widower Matthew Hutchins at the time.
Santa Fe County Sheriff Adan Mendoza found negligence in the shooting and issued a report in October. However, it does not explain how live ammunition got to the film set in the first place.
Real bullet instead of blank cartridges
Chief camerawoman Hutchins was fatally injured on October 21, 2021 while filming the low-budget western “Rust” at a film ranch in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Baldwin, who served as lead actor and producer on the film, was holding a gun during a scene rehearsal when a shot went off.
Investigations revealed that the Colt had a real bullet in it – instead of blanks. Baldwin always denied the blame. He stated that he did not pull the trigger and that the gun accidentally went off.