Baldwin and 'Rust' armourer to face manslaughter charge over shooting

Alec Baldwin is to be charged with involuntary manslaughter over the accidental shooting of a cinematographer on the set of the low-budget western "Rust," a prosecutor said Thursday.

Baldwin was holding the Colt .45 during rehearsals for the film when it discharged, killing Halyna Hutchins and wounding director Joel Souza in October 2021.

The film's armorer, Hannah Gutierrez Reed, who was responsible for the weapon, will also be charged with the same crime, New Mexico first judicial district attorney Mary Carmack-Altwies announced.

If convicted, they both face up to 18 months in jail and a US$5,000 (RM21,542) fine, but a firearm enhancement could take that sentence to five years.

"After a thorough review of the evidence and the laws of the state of New Mexico, I have determined that there is sufficient evidence to file criminal charges against Alec Baldwin and other members of the ‘Rust’ film crew," Carmack-Altwies said.

"On my watch, no one is above the law, and everyone deserves justice."

Baldwin, 64, has repeatedly said he was told by the crew that the gun was not loaded.

The former "30 Rock" star has also previously insisted he did not pull the trigger, though FBI firearms experts have said this is not possible.

Baldwin's attorney Luke Nikas vowed to beat the charge, which he called a "terrible miscarriage of justice."

"Baldwin had no reason to believe there was a live bullet in the gun – or anywhere on the movie set," he said.

"He relied on the professionals with whom he worked, who assured him the gun did not have live rounds. We will fight these charges, and we will win."

Lawyers for Gutierrez Reed said they were confident the young armorer would be cleared.

"Hannah is, and has always been, very emotional and sad about this tragic accident. But she did not commit involuntary manslaughter," a statement issued by Jason Bowles and Todd Bullion

"These charges are the result of a very flawed investigation, and an inaccurate understanding of the full facts."

Live rounds on set 

Assistant director David Halls, who handed Baldwin the weapon and told him it was "cold" – industry speak for safe – has agreed to plead guilty to negligent use of a deadly weapon.

He will serve a suspended sentence and six months of probation, a statement said.

Baldwin, a co-producer of the movie, and Gutierrez Reed have been charged with two counts of manslaughter involving different levels of negligence.

A jury could convict on both, but they will only be sentenced on one.

Both counts entail a maximum 18-month jail term, but one of them – involuntary manslaughter in the commission of a lawful act – includes an added mandatory penalty because a gun was involved in the death.

The firearm enhancement makes the crime punishable by five years in jail.

"If any one of these three people – Alec Baldwin, Hannah Gutierrez-Reed or David Halls – had done their job, Halyna Hutchins would be alive today. It’s that simple," said Andrea Reeb, the special prosecutor appointed by the district attorney.

"The evidence clearly shows a pattern of criminal disregard for safety on the 'Rust' film set.

"In New Mexico, there is no room for film sets that don’t take our state’s commitment to gun safety and public safety seriously."

'Fast and loose' 

A lengthy investigation has looked at how the live round – and five others – got onto the set, and how it ended up in a prop gun.

Speaking on CNN, Carmack-Altwies said the production had a "fast and loose" attitude to safety, with those live rounds mixed in with dummy rounds.

"And then they somehow got loaded into a gun handed off to Alec Baldwin. He didn't check it. He didn't do any of the things that he was supposed to do to make sure that he was safe or that anyone around him was safe.

"And then he pointed the gun at Helena Hutchins and he pulled the trigger."

The accident sent shockwaves through Hollywood and led to calls for a total ban of real guns on set.

Industry experts have said there are already stringent safety rules that were ignored.

Baldwin last year reached an undisclosed settlement with the family of 42-year-old Hutchins.

It was also announced at the time that production on the low-budget movie would restart this year.

Widower Matthew Hutchins, who will become an executive producer, said "all the original principal players" would return to the set.

Souza said he would devote his work on the film "to honoring Halyna's legacy and making her proud."