Actor Alec Baldwin has filed a civil lawsuit for malicious prosecution and civil rights violations in the fatal shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on the set of the movie 'Rust.' The lawsuit, filed in Santa Fe, New Mexico, alleges defamation and intentional mishandling of evidence by prosecutors and investigators.
Baldwin, the lead actor and co-producer of 'Rust,' was involved in the incident where a prop gun discharged, killing Hutchins and wounding director Joel Souza during a rehearsal in October 2021. Baldwin has maintained that he did not pull the trigger but rather pulled back the hammer of the revolver.
The lawsuit names special prosecutor Kari Morrissey, Santa Fe District Attorney Mary Carmack-Altwies, three investigators from the Santa Fe County sheriff's office, and the county board of commissioners as defendants. Baldwin's legal team argues that he was unfairly targeted for professional or political gain.
The trial faced complications when ammunition possibly related to the shooting was mishandled by investigators. Prosecutors dismissed the relevance of the ammo, leading to the dismissal of the involuntary manslaughter charge against Baldwin in July.
The state attorney general declined to pursue an appeal on behalf of prosecutors, effectively closing the case in December. Meanwhile, movie weapons supervisor Hannah Gutierrez-Reed was convicted of involuntary manslaughter and is serving a sentence in a state penitentiary.
Baldwin's lawsuit seeks unspecified damages, including punitive and compensatory damages, attorneys' fees, and interest. The legal action adds to the ongoing post-trial litigation surrounding the 'Rust' shooting.
Despite the legal challenges, Baldwin has resumed his comedic roles on 'Saturday Night Live' and is reportedly planning a reality TV show with his wife and children. Lawsuits from the family of Halyna Hutchins against Baldwin and other 'Rust' producers are also ongoing, with a settlement reached in a lawsuit by Hutchins' widower and son.
