American actor Alec Baldwin, author of a fatal shooting on the set of the 2021 film Rust, will be charged with manslaughter, the Santa Fe County Attorney’s Office said in a statement Thursday. The film’s gunsmith, Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, who handled the gun, faces the same charges.
On October 21, 2021, that shoot on a New Mexico ranch had turned tragic when the 64-year-old American actor activated a gun that was supposed to contain only blanks, but whose very real projectile killed cinematographer Halyna Hutchins , 42, and the injured director Joel Souza.
Up to 18 months in prison if convicted
“After carefully reviewing the evidence and the laws of New Mexico, I have determined that there is sufficient evidence to pursue criminal charges against Alec Baldwin and other members of the Rust film crew,” he told prosecutors. Under my watch, no one is above the law and everyone deserves justice. »
The charges will be “formally filed by the end of the month,” prosecutors said. Alec Baldwin and Hannah Gutierrez-Reed face up to 18 months in prison if convicted.
In August, the 30 Rock actor said he expected no one to be charged and told CNN he had hired a private investigator to establish responsibilities in the case.