Alec Baldwin has vowed to crack down on the involuntary manslaughter charges in Halyna Hutchins’ death, branding the charges “a horrible miscarriage of justice”.
It was announced that Baldwin, 64, and gunsmith Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, 25, would be charged with involuntary manslaughter on Thursday, 15 months after the 42-year-old cinematographer was shot dead by the actor on the set of Rust in New Mexico.
Baldwin’s attorney Luka Nikas lashed out, claiming “this decision distorts the tragic death of Halyna Hutchins,” and doubled down on his client’s earlier protests, saying the actor’s colleagues had “assured him the gun had no live rounds.” .
“We will fight these allegations and we will win,” the attorney said.
But New Mexico First Judicial District Attorney Mary Carmack-Altwies promised Baldwin wouldn’t get a “free pass,” and accused the actor of running a “fast and loose set” that was plagued by safety issues.
Baldwin has kept blaming others since he accidentally shooed Hutchins dead on Oct. 21, 2021.
Baldwin has openly resisted the trigger, but this contradicted an FBI analysis of the old Colt pistol that fired the fatal shot
Halyna Hutchins with her husband Matthew, a film producer, and their son Andros, who was eight when his mother was shot on the set of Rust in New Mexico
Gunsmith Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, 25, (left) is also said to be charged with involuntary manslaughter. Dave Halls, the assistant director, has pleaded guilty to charges of negligent use of a deadly weapon.
In a now infamous interview with ABC News host George Stephanopoulos in December 2021, he said he did not feel responsible for Hutchins’ death and claimed it was “highly unlikely” that he would be charged.
Baldwin instead blamed prop managers, claiming they didn’t check the gun was loaded before handing it to him.
The actor also shared how he “loved” Hutchins and bonded with her widower after he accidentally killed her – and claimed cops at the scene told him he would not be charged in the shooting.
But today New Mexico authorities announced that he faces involuntary manslaughter charges in connection with Hutchin’s death.
In an interview with CNN after the announcement, District Attorney Carmack-Altwies said, “There was such a lack of security and safety standards on this set. There were live rounds on set, they were mixed in with dummy rounds.
“Nobody checked these, or at least they didn’t check them regularly.
“They were sort of loaded into a gun, handed over to Alec Baldwin, he didn’t check, he didn’t do what he was supposed to do to make sure he was safe or that someone else was safe.
“He pointed the gun at Halyna Hutchins and pulled the trigger,” she said.
She said a “total of circumstances” led to the decision, adding, “This was a really fast and loose set. And that nobody did their job.’
Though it may have been an accident, she said Baldwin “doesn’t get a free pass” because he’s a star.
“Just because it’s an accident doesn’t mean it’s not criminal. They didn’t want to do it, they had no intention of killing, but it happened anyway, and it happened because of more than mere negligence.
“We’ve spoken to a lot of actors, A-list and others who have said they always check their guns or have someone check them in front of them.
“An actor doesn’t get a free pass just because he’s an actor. Before the law all are equal.’
Mary Carmack-Altwies, New Mexico’s First Judicial District Attorney, stands firm. She said in an interview with CNN today, “An actor doesn’t get a free pass just because he’s an actor,” as she vowed to take the case to court
Baldwin (left) with Hutchins and other actors from the film before the fatal accident
The gun Baldwin fired while filming Rust
Hannah Gutierrez-Reed also announced that she would take action against the indictment.
In a statement, her attorneys said: “Hannah is and always has been very emotional and saddened by this tragic accident. But she didn’t commit involuntary manslaughter.
“These allegations are the result of a very flawed investigation and an inaccurate understanding of the full facts.
“We intend to bring the full truth to light and believe that Hannah will be acquitted of her wrongdoing by a jury.”
Baldwin and Gutierrez-Reed, who loaded the prop gun that killed Hutchins, face a maximum of 18 months in prison if convicted.
Dave Halls, the assistant director, has pleaded guilty to charges of negligent use of a deadly weapon.
The public prosecutor is convinced of the decision. It was welcomed by Halyna’s family, who issued a statement through her attorney.
“We would like to thank the Santa Fe Sheriff and the District Attorney for completing their thorough investigation and determining that the involuntary manslaughter charge of the killing of Halyna Hutchins in a knowing disregard for human life is warranted.
“Our independent investigation also confirms that the charges are well founded. It is a comfort to the family that in New Mexico no one is above the law.
“We support the charges, will cooperate fully with this prosecutor’s office and fervently hope that the justice system works to protect the public and hold those who break the law accountable.”
Halyna Hutchins was shot dead by actor Alec Baldwin on October 21, 2021
Announcing the indictment, Special Prosecutor Andrea Reeb said: “If any of those three people – Alec Baldwin, Hannah Gutierrez-Reed or David Halls – had done his job, Halyna Hutchins would be alive today. As simple as that.’
Baldwin wasn’t seen today, but his glamorous wife Hilaria put on a brave face for the school run just before the announcement.
“The evidence clearly shows a pattern of criminal disregard for security on the ‘Rust’ film set.
“There is no place in New Mexico for movie sets that don’t take seriously our state’s commitment to gun safety and public safety,” she added.
Prosecutors have not yet formally filed the charges — they will by the end of the month.
Alec Baldwin exiting La Colombe coffee shop early in the morning on November 1, 2022 in New York City, NY, USA. Baldwin vowed to fight the charges, calling them a “horrific miscarriage of justice.”
“In this case, there is a very clear procedure for enforcing justice. We are committed to maintaining the integrity of this process to ensure equal justice before the law,” added Carmack-Altwies.
After that, the three accused have to appear for the first time, but are allowed to do so virtually.
Baldwin, 64, accidentally shot and killed Halyna Hutchins on the set of the October 2021 Western film.
For the past 15 months, he has strongly denied responsibility for the accident and insisted he did not pull the trigger, although an FBI forensic analysis of the prop gun he used concluded he did.
Baldwin was sued by Halyna’s widower Matthew in 2022 but settled the lawsuit for an undisclosed sum.
He also made Matthew executive producer on the film, which will resume production in Los Angeles.
Prosecutors have defied criticism of the long delay in decision-making.
They said they were forced to wait for reports from both the FBI – which took 10 months – and the local Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office – which took a year.
There was no press conference today to announce the decision.
Instead, the prosecutor’s office issued a written statement to the media, which was also published online.