Actor Alec Baldwin Pleads Not Guilty to Involuntary Manslaughter Charge in Film Set Shooting
Actor Alec Baldwin entered a plea of not guilty to an involuntary manslaughter charge in the fatal shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on the set of the Western movie 'Rust' in New Mexico. The incident occurred during a rehearsal outside Santa Fe in October 2021.
Baldwin, who is the lead actor and a co-producer on the film, waived an arraignment that was originally scheduled to take place remotely by video conference. Court documents filed on Wednesday reveal his plea, facing a potential sentence of up to 18 months in prison if convicted.
The fatal incident took place when Baldwin was rehearsing a scene and pointing a gun at Hutchins. Accidentally, the gun went off, fatally shooting Hutchins and injuring director Joel Souza. A grand jury in Santa Fe indicted Baldwin in January after prosecutors received a new analysis of the gun, which led to the revival of the charge initially filed and then dismissed in April 2023.
While awaiting trial, Baldwin is currently free under certain conditions, which include not possessing firearms, consuming alcohol, or leaving the country. He is allowed limited contact with witnesses for the purpose of promoting the yet-to-be-released film 'Rust,' but he is prohibited from involving the cast and crew in any related documentary.
Baldwin has maintained his innocence, claiming that he pulled back the hammer but did not pull the trigger. In an interview with ABC News' George Stephanopoulos in December 2021, Baldwin stated, 'Halyna and I had something profound in common, and that is that we both assumed the gun was empty ... other than those dummy rounds.'
The grand jury indictment presents two alternative standards for pursuing the felony charge against Baldwin. One focuses on the negligent use of a firearm, while the other requires prosecutors to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Baldwin caused Hutchins' death without due caution or 'circumspection.'
Forensic analysis conducted by Lucien and Michael Haag of Forensic Science Services in Arizona concluded that the gun's trigger had to be pulled or depressed sufficiently to release the fully cocked or retracted hammer. However, an earlier FBI report suggested that the firearm, like others of its design, could go off without the trigger being pulled if force was applied to an uncocked hammer, such as dropping the weapon. The gun reportedly broke during testing.
Special prosecutors Kari Morrissey and Jason Lewis had previously dismissed the charge after learning that the gun might have been modified before the shooting and malfunctioned. The grand jury heard testimonies from various witnesses, including a crew member present near the shooting, another crew member who walked off the set in protest of working conditions before the incident, and Michael Haag, a weapons forensics expert and movie armorer.
In addition to Baldwin, 'Rust' weapons supervisor Hannah Gutierrez-Reed has also been charged with involuntary manslaughter and tampering with evidence related to Hutchins' death. Gutierrez-Reed's trial is scheduled to begin on February 22, and she has pleaded not guilty to all charges.
The tragic shooting on the 'Rust' set has sparked a series of civil lawsuits, including wrongful death claims from Hutchins' family, alleging negligence on the part of Baldwin and the film's producers regarding safety protocols. Baldwin and the other defendants have denied these accusations.
Assistant director and safety coordinator David Halls had previously pleaded no contest to unsafe handling of a firearm in March, receiving a suspended sentence of six months of probation. In his plea deal, he agreed to cooperate in the investigation of the shooting.
As the case moves forward, the film industry continues to grapple with questions surrounding on-set safety and the handling of firearms. The tragic incident serves as a reminder of the crucial importance of maintaining strict safety protocols to prevent similar accidents in the future.
