Actor Alec Baldwin has been formally charged by a New Mexico grand jury in connection to the 2021 fatal shooting incident that occurred on the set of the film “Rust,” as indicated by recent court documents.
Baldwin is facing two counts of involuntary manslaughter.
The initial charge is characterized as “negligent use of a firearm,” while the second charge involves involuntary manslaughter due to the absence of due caution or circumspection, defined as “an act committed with complete disregard or indifference to the safety of others,” as outlined in the court records.
Baldwin’s Involuntary Manslaughter Charges Withdrawn
Last year, the involuntary manslaughter charges against Baldwin were dismissed, as prosecutors, in a statement, explained their inability to pursue the case within the existing time constraints and based on the facts and evidence provided by law enforcement, citing “new facts” that had emerged.
The tragic incident occurred during a scene rehearsal on the set of a western film, resulting in the death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins and injury to director Joel Souza.
Baldwin, who asserted in a previous interview that he did not pull the trigger, had initially seen the involuntary manslaughter charge dropped in April of the same year.
This decision was influenced by the discovery that the firearm involved in the shooting may have been modified, as revealed by law enforcement.
Nonetheless, prosecutors left open the possibility of re-filing the case in the future.
In October, prosecutors announced that “additional facts” had surfaced, indicating potential criminal responsibility on the part of Mr. Baldwin in the death of Halyna Hutchins.
They indicated the intention to present the case to a grand jury for reconsideration of charges against the actor.
Assistant Director Halls Linked to Baldwin’s Gun Transfer
The individual responsible for passing the firearm to Baldwin on the day of the tragic incident was identified as the film’s assistant director, David Halls.
In 2023, he entered into a plea agreement for the charge of “negligent use of a deadly weapon,” as indicated by prosecutors, with the terms of the deal encompassing a six-month probationary period.
Attorney Gloria Allred, who represents the family of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins in a civil lawsuit against Baldwin, issued a statement in response to the recent development on Friday.