A grand jury issued an indictment against Alec Baldwin on Friday, charging him with involuntary manslaughter in connection to a fatal shooting during a movie set rehearsal in New Mexico in 2021. This development revives a previously dormant legal case against the accomplished actor.
Prosecutors with special authority presented the case before a secret grand jury in Santa Fe after receiving a fresh analysis of the firearm involved. They refrained from responding to inquiries after devoting about a day and a half presenting their case to the grand jury.
Baldwin’s defense team signaled their intention to contest the charge. “We anticipate our day in court,” conveyed Luke Nikas and Alex Spiro, the defense attorneys representing Baldwin, via email.
While the proceedings are veiled in confidentiality, two of the observed witnesses at the courthouse were crew members, one present during the fatal incident and another who had left the set a day earlier citing safety concerns.
In October 2021, during a rehearsal for the Western film “Rust,” where Baldwin served as the lead actor and co-producer, he pointed a gun at cinematographer Halyna Hutchins. Tragically, the firearm discharged, resulting in her death and injuring director Joel Souza. Baldwin contends that he pulled back the hammer but did not activate the trigger.
The indictment provides prosecutors with two alternative grounds for pursuing involuntary manslaughter charges against Baldwin regarding Hutchins’ death. One stems from the negligent use of a firearm, while the other alleges felony misconduct, demonstrating “total disregard or indifference for the safety of others.”
Recent judicial decisions temporarily halted multiple civil lawsuits seeking damages against Baldwin and “Rust” producers, as prosecutors indicated their intention to present the case to a grand jury. Plaintiffs in these suits include members of the film crew.
Gloria Allred, a Los Angeles-based attorney representing the deceased cinematographer’s family in a civil case, stated that her clients are seeking truth and eagerly anticipating Baldwin’s trial.
Neama Rahmani, a former federal prosecutor and president of West Coast Trial Lawyers in Los Angeles, pointed to past prosecutorial missteps, asserting that presenting ballistics evidence alone may not be sufficient to establish Baldwin’s broader responsibility and legal duty in handling the gun on set.
Special prosecutors initially dropped an involuntary manslaughter charge against Baldwin in April, citing information that the gun might have been altered and malfunctioned. Subsequently, they reconsidered, contemplating whether to refile charges after receiving a new firearm analysis.
The analysis, conducted by ballistics and forensic testing experts, involved assembling the gun with replacement parts after the FBI testing broke components. The report examined the gun and its markings on a spent cartridge, concluding that the trigger must have been pulled or depressed.
Led by Lucien Haag of Forensic Science Services in Arizona, the analysis contradicted Baldwin’s repeated denial of pulling the trigger, stating, “given the tests, findings, and observations reported here, the trigger had to be pulled or depressed sufficiently to release the fully cocked or retracted hammer of the evidence revolver.”
Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, the weapons supervisor on the movie set, pleaded not guilty to involuntary manslaughter and evidence tampering. Her trial is scheduled for February. “Rust” assistant director David Halls pleaded no contest to unsafe firearm handling last March.
The 2021 shooting prompted a series of civil lawsuits, including wrongful death claims. Allegations in these suits contend that defendants were lax in adhering to safety standards, a position disputed by Baldwin and others.
Rust Movie Productions paid a $100,000 fine to state workplace safety regulators, acknowledging failures in complying with standard industry protocols. The production company faced criticism for inadequate action after two misfires on set before the fatal shooting.
Filming for “Rust” resumed in Montana last year under an agreement with Matthew Hutchins, the widower of the cinematographer, who became an executive producer.