Alec Baldwin and Armorer to Face Two Counts of Involuntary Manslaughter in Fatal Shooting of Cinematographer Halyna Hutchins

After a lengthy investigation, New Mexico district attorney Mary Carmack-Altwies has announced that actor Alec Baldwin and the armorer who oversaw all weapons used in the production of the Western movie “Rust” will be charged with two counts of involuntary manslaughter in the fatal shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins.

Baldwin, who has maintained he was not aware the gun he fired contained a live round, called the New Mexico prosecutors’ decision “a terrible miscarriage of justice,” according to his attorney, Luke Nikas, who vowed to fight the charges. Nikas said, “Mr. Baldwin had no reason to believe there was a live bullet in the gun – or anywhere on the movie set.”

The incident occurred in 2021 while filming “Rust,” a Western that Baldwin was starring in and producing in New Mexico. Baldwin, 64, was holding a gun and rehearsing a scene when the weapon discharged, killing cinematographer Halyna Hutchins.

Jason Bowles, an attorney for the film’s armorer, Hannah Gutierrez Reed, said a jury will find his client not guilty because she has “committed no crime.” Bowles said, “We are confident that a jury will find that Ms. Reed did nothing wrong and that she is not responsible for this tragedy.”

The case is expected to go to trial in the coming months. Baldwin and Reed both face up to 10 years in prison if convicted.