The New Mexico Attorney General’s office filed formal involuntary manslaughter charges Tuesday against actor Alec Baldwin and a weapons specialist for shooting to death a cameraman on a movie set in that state. Santa Fe District Attorney Mary Carmack-Altwies has filed charges against Baldwin and Hannah Gutierrez-Reed for their role as gun supervisors on the set of the Western”Rust.“
The filing comes nearly two weeks after she first announced that Baldwin and Gutierrez-Reed would face charges for a “pattern of criminal disregard for security”, as described by the police. Carmack-Altwies has detailed two sets of involuntary manslaughter charges related to the shooting in recent weeks.
Baldwin and Gutierrez-Reed insist the allegations against them are false. On Tuesday, Luke Nikas, Baldwin’s lawyer, declined to comment further on the case and instead referred back to his earlier statement, calling the allegations a “terrible miscarriage of justice” and promising his client would prevail through strong legal representation.
“Mr. Baldwin had no reason to believe there was a live bullet in the gun – or anywhere on the film set.
“He trusted the professionals he worked with.”
The attorney representing Gutierrez-Reed said a statement would be issued later. On October 21, 2021, during dress rehearsals on a ranch outside of Santa Fe, Halyna Hutchins was shot dead. Baldwin had Hutchins in his sights when the gun went off, fatally wounding director Joel Souza and killing Hutchins.
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Baldwin’s role as producer and as the person who fired the gun were factors, according to the prosecution. Baldwin is charged with manslaughter, which carries a number of possible sentences. For killing another person “without due caution and circumspection”, one could be charged with manslaughter.
New security measures have been introduced in the film industry following the death of Hutchins. In an interview with The Associated Press on January 19, Carmack-Altwies said the set “really ran pretty fast and loose” and that Baldwin should have known about the previous misfires and safety concerns raised by crew members.
She went on to explain that Baldwin was the one who aimed and fired the gun. A subpoena will be issued for Baldwin and Gutierrez-Reed. Instead of using a grand jury, prosecutors will ask the judge to decide if there is enough evidence to proceed with a trial. The decision-making process can take up to 60 days.
Alec Baldwin has now been officially charged for the fatal shooting on the film set “Rust”. Prosecutors gave much more detail and cited his media interviews against him. They think he’s lying. @jennburrill joins @danabrams to discuss.#DanAbramsLive pic.twitter.com/D4FetleRyu
— NewsNation (@NewsNation) February 1, 2023
A defendant may be guilty of involuntary manslaughter if he or she causes the death of another person while engaging in a lawful but high-risk activity but acting negligently or carelessly. On the set of “RustSpecial Prosecutor Andrea Reeb noted a pattern ofcriminal disregard for security.”
Deputy Director David Halls, who was responsible for security, has pleaded guilty and the terms of his agreement with prosecutors will be made public. There are conflicting accounts of who gave Baldwin the gun during the unfilmed dress rehearsal. They stated that Halls has decided to plead guilty to negligent use of a deadly weapon.
The spokeswoman for the prosecutor’s office, Heather Brewer, said in a statement released on Monday that the prosecutors are
“fully focused on securing justice for Halyna Hutchins”
And that
“the evidence and facts speak for themselves.”
Baldwin, who was also involved in producing “Rust”, has stated that the death was an unfortunate accident. The 64-year-old actor is suing those responsible for the handling and delivery of the loaded .45-caliber revolver to clear his name, claiming he was misinformed about the weapon’s safety. Baldwin claims in his lawsuit that he and Hutchins were adjusting camera angles when he pointed the gun at her and backed off, releasing the hammer.
Gutierrez attorney, Jason Bowles of Reed, argued that the allegations stem from a “lack of research” and a “inaccurate understanding of the full facts.” In many preliminary ruling proceedings, defendants have the option of participating remotely or even having their first lawsuit excused.
Baldwin’s 40-year career included the early blockbuster “The hunt for the red October,” a prominent role in the sitcom “30 Rock‘, and legendary twists in Martin Scorsese’s ‘The Departed’ and a cinematic adaptation of David Mamet’s ‘Glengary Glen Ross.Baldwin has gained fame in recent years for his portrayal of Trump on ‘Saturday Night Live.”
