Alec Baldwin. Source : Gage Skidmore via Wikimedia Commons. (Used under creative commons)
Nearly two weeks after the charges were initially announced, Alec Baldwin and the film’s armourer have been formally charged over the shooting.
The ‘Rust’ film set made headlines around the world in 2021 after a gun held by Baldwin was fired, wounding director Joel Souza, and fatally injuring cinematographer Halyna Hutchins.
Santa Fe District Attorney Mary Carmack-Altwies announced the intention to prosecute Baldwin and the film’s armourer, Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, nearly two weeks ago.
Ms Carmack-Altwies has now officially filed the charging documents which have directly named Baldwin and Gutierrez-Reed.
The charges filed are for involuntary manslaughter
Baldwin’s attorney Luke Nikas has declined to comment on the charges, but has previously said they are a “terrible miscarriage of justice”.
Gutierrez-Reed’s attorney have however said a statement would be released at a later time.
Prosecutors have said the involvement of Baldwin in the ‘Rust’ film as both a producer and the individual holding and firing the gun were major factors in the decision to file charges.
Baldwin and Gutierrez-Reed will be issued a summons which will require a court appearance.
Instead of a grand jury, a judge will be the deciding factor in determining whether a trial will move forward, which could take up to 60 days.
The probable cause statement, written by investigator Robert Shilling, said the handling of the situation was “reckless”.
“On the day of the shooting alone, evidence shows that no less than a dozen acts, or omissions of recklessness, occurred in the short time period prior to lunch and the time of the shooting, and this does not include the reckless handling of the firearm by Baldwin.” Mr Shilling said.
“By act or omission or failure to act in his position as a producer directly contributed and/or failed to mitigate numerous reckless and dangerous actions during a very short time period.
“Many media interviews and law enforcement interviews were conducted by Baldwin, and he displayed very inconsistent accounts of what happened during the incident when firing the gun that killed Hutchins.
“[Photos and video] clearly show Baldwin, multiple times, with his finger inside the trigger guard and on the trigger, while manipulating the hammer and while drawing, pointing, and holstering the revolver.” He said.
In the charging document for Gutierrez-Reed, Mr Shilling said she was not compliant with industry standards.
“[Her] deviation from known standards, practice and protocol directly caused the fatal death of Hutchins.” Mr Shilling said.
“Her absence from the set allowed the reckless behaviour to happen and continue, resulting in the fatal shooting.” He said.
In addition to the round involved in the shooting, five unspent live rounds were also seized from the film set.
No charges will be filed for the shooting of Joel Souza.
