New Mexico prosecutors plan to re-charge Alec Baldwin with involuntary manslaughter for the Rust shooting
- Baldwin shot Halyna Hutchins in October 2021 in Rust, set in Santa Fe
- He always claimed it was an accident for which he was not responsible
- Prosecutors dismissed the charges against him in April but said they reserved the right to charge him again
New Mexico prosecutors plan to re-charge actor Alec Baldwin with involuntary manslaughter for fatally shooting cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on the set of his film Rust in October 2021.
Two law enforcement sources cited by NBC News confirmed the impending charges today. They say there have also been recent discussions about a plea deal.
The special prosecutor in charge of the case has not publicly confirmed the new charges.
Actor Alec Baldwin, pictured in the Hamptons earlier this month, will be charged again with manslaughter in mid-November if the grand jury agrees
If convicted, Baldwin faces up to 18 months in prison.
The case against Baldwin was dismissed in April this year on the grounds of new evidence suggesting the gun he was using may have been altered before he handled it and as a result malfunctioned.
At the time, special prosecutors Kari Morrissey and Jason Lewis said they reserved the right to re-indict Baldwin.
“This decision does not absolve Mr. Baldwin of his criminal guilt and the charges may be refiled,” they said.
A report from August this year confirmed that the weapon had not been modified.
Baldwin has yet to comment. He always claimed it was a fatal accident for which he was not responsible.
The film’s gunsmith, Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, was also charged with involuntary manslaughter. Her trial date is scheduled for next February.
Dave Halls, the film’s assistant director, accepted a settlement for negligent use of a deadly weapon.
In March, he was sentenced to six months of supervised probation.
Baldwin accidentally shot camerawoman Halyna Hutchins on the set of his Western Rust in October 2021