Alec Baldwin was seen emerging from his Manhattan apartment building on Wednesday after vowing to fight possible new charges in connection with a fatal shooting on the set of his film Rust.
The 65-year-old wore a navy blue jacket and gray trousers for the morning walk in the Big Apple.
He stood up bravely as he again faces the possibility of involuntary manslaughter for the death of cameraman Halyna Hutchins.
The actor was previously charged with involuntary manslaughter in January before the charges were dropped in April.
On Tuesday, prosecutors in New Mexico announced they will present a renewed case against Baldwin to a grand jury, with special prosecutors in the case seeking to indict him.
Baldwin’s attorney Luke Nikas said his client will fight the case in court if he is charged.
Alec Baldwin, 65, was seen taking a morning walk in Manhattan after vowing to fight possible charges related to a fatal shooting on the set of his film Rust
Baldwin wore a navy blue jacket and gray pants as he stepped into the Big Apple on Wednesday morning
The actor was charged with involuntary manslaughter in January before the charges were dropped in April. On Tuesday, New Mexico prosecutors said they are seeking new charges
Baldwin has been fighting involuntary manslaughter charges since October 21, 2021, when he fatally shot cameraman Halyna Hutchins while filming a scene in a church.
The actor was holding a Colt. 45 revolver when it fired a live bullet at director Joel Souza’s shoulder and another at Hutchins.
Hutchins was rushed to hospital, where she was later pronounced dead.
It remains unclear how live ammunition was brought onto the set or loaded into the firearm.
Baldwin was interviewed by the Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office after the tragedy, and has steadfastly maintained his innocence, insisting the gun fired spontaneously.
The first prosecutor to take on the case, Andrea Reeb, investigated the shooting for a year before deciding to charge Baldwin, while also giving numerous interviews to the press.
Baldwin and his legal team blasted the official’s position as unfair and argued that he was being made an example of by a fame-hungry prosecutor.
Baldwin (pictured on the set of Rust) said he plans to fight the case in court if new charges are filed against him
Baldwin with Hutchins (center) and other members of the film’s cast on set in Santa Fe while shooting the movie Rust
Baldwin has insisted that the firearm with which cinematographer Hutchins (pictured) was fatally shot on the film set of his western Rust in October 2021 was fired spontaneously.
Reeb would subsequently resign from the case, before Santa Fe District Attorney Mary Carmack-Altwies also withdrew after a judge determined she could not cooperate with a special prosecutor.
“Carmack-Altwies had said her office was too understaffed to handle the case without outside help.” Variety reported.
In January, the actor was eventually charged with involuntary manslaughter, but the charges were dropped in April this year after an argument arose over the weapon’s functionality on set.
Baldwin’s attorneys stated that the gun may have been modified before he handled it, causing it to malfunction when the trigger was pulled.
In August, a report was made public finding that the revolver had not been modified and that the trigger had to be pulled in order to fire.
Baldwin, his wife Hilaria and their seven of their eight children at a film festival in East Hampton on October 7. If convicted, the father and actor could face up to 18 months in prison
After further investigation, Kari Morrissey and Jason Lewis, the special prosecutors in the case, announced that they will present a renewed plea to a grand jury in the next two months.
“This decision does not absolve Mr. Baldwin of criminal guilt and the charges may be refiled,” Morrissey and Lewis said.
If convicted, the father of eight could face a prison sentence of up to 18 months.
Baldwin continues to claim he bears no responsibility for the shooting, and his attorney Nikas said Tuesday he plans to fight the case in court if charges are filed.
“It is unfortunate that a terrible tragedy has turned into this misguided prosecution. We will answer any charges in court,” the lawyer said.
Baldwin’s wife, Hilaria, was seen in public in Manhattan on Tuesday after the special counsel said they were asking for new charges.
Hilaria, 39, wore a white tank top and gray jeans as she stepped out into New York, and has long supported Alec in the aftermath of the murder.
News of the possible charges comes as Baldwin’s wife Hilaria, 39, was spotted in New York City on Tuesday.
Hilaria, who has long supported Alec in the aftermath of the shooting, wore a white tank top and gray pants on the day her husband faced the possibility of new charges
In February, she posted a lengthy post on social media expressing her love for her husband.
“But here we stand… still, surrounded by all of you wonderful people, our little babies… and together,” she said. “In this story with you, Alec… I’m here, we’re here… never alone.”
Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, the film’s gunsmith who was responsible for the safety of the cast and crew, was also charged with involuntary manslaughter.
She will stand trial in February next year.
Dave Halls, Rust’s assistant principal, accepted a plea deal on charges of negligent use of a deadly weapon.
In March, Halls was sentenced to six months of supervised probation.