Fatal shooting on the set of "Rust": Alec Baldwin will be charged with manslaughter

American actor Alec Baldwin, perpetuator of a fatal shooting on the set of the film Rust in 2021, will be charged with manslaughter, announced the prosecutor in charge of the case on Thursday, January 19. He faces up to five years in prison if convicted of aggravated negligence. The film's gunsmith who handled the weapon, Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, is facing the same charge, said Santa Fe County District Attorney Mary Carmack-Altwies. On October 21, 2021, this shooting had turned tragic when Alec Baldwin had activated a weapon supposed to contain only blank bullets, but whose very real bullet had killed the director of photography Halyna Hutchins, 42, and injured the director, Joel Souza.

"After careful review of the evidence and the laws of New Mexico, I have determined that there is sufficient evidence to bring criminal charges against Alec Baldwin and other members of the Rust film crew," said Mary Carmack-Altwies. "Under my watch, no one is above the law, and everyone deserves justice," she added. The charges will be formally filed "by the end of the month," said the prosecutor. If convicted of manslaughter, Alec Baldwin and Hannah Gutierrez-Reed could face up to 18 months in prison.

This indictment represents "a terrible miscarriage of justice," denounced Luke Nikas, Alec Baldwin's lawyer. “This decision distorts the tragic death of Halyna Hutchins. Alec Baldwin had no reason to believe a live ammunition was in the gun, or anywhere else on the set."

The actor has always said that he was assured that his weapon was harmless. He also maintained that he had not pulled the trigger, a claim questioned by experts. The police investigation focused in particular on determining how live ammunition could have been found on the set, which is in theory strictly prohibited, precisely to avoid accidents.

In August, Alec Baldwin said he expected no one to be charged, telling CNN that he had hired a private detective to establish responsibilities in the case. The drama resulted in a flurry of civil lawsuits, filed by several members of the team. In October 2022, Alec Baldwin announced that he had reached an agreement ending the civil lawsuits brought by the family of Halyna Hutchins. Its amount was not disclosed. At the time, the resumption of filming of Rust had also been announced for 2023.