Alec Baldwin has vowed to fight in court if he is charged with involuntary manslaughter for fatally shooting cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on the set of his film Rust in October 2021.
On Tuesday, New Mexico prosecutors announced they will present a case against Baldwin to a grand jury.
The actor’s attorney, Luke Nikas, called the decision “unfortunate” and said he plans to fight the case in court.
“It is unfortunate that a terrible tragedy has turned into this misguided prosecution. We will answer any charges in court,” the lawyers said.
Kari Morrissey and Jason Lewis, the special prosecutors on the case, said they will take the case before a grand jury within the next two months for criminal charges.
If convicted, the father of eight could face a prison sentence of up to 18 months.
Alec Baldwin’s lawyer has called the decision to potentially charge his client with involuntary manslaughter “unfortunate” and that he plans to fight the case in court after the actor shot Halyna Hutchins on the set of Rust.
Baldwin fatally shot cinematographer Hutchins (pictured) on the film set of his western Rust in October 2021. He insisted the gun fired spontaneously as he punched director Joel Souza in the shoulder before shooting Hutchins.
“After extensive investigations over the past several months, additional facts have come to light that we believe demonstrate that Mr. Baldwin is criminally culpable in the death of Halyna Hutchins and the shooting of Joel Souza,” Morrissey and Lewis said in a statement.
“We believe it is the right course of action to allow a panel of New Mexico citizens to determine from here whether Mr. Baldwin should be held for criminal trial.”
News of the possible charges comes as Baldwin’s wife was spotted in New York City on Tuesday. Hilaria Baldwin was spotted outside her Manhattan apartment wearing a white tank top and gray jeans.
Hilaria has long supported Alec in the aftermath of the shooting. 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.”
On October 21, 2021, Baldwin was filming a scene in a church when he pulled the trigger on his Colt .45 revolver and fatally shot cameraman Halyna Hutchins.
He insists the gun fired spontaneously because he struck director Joel Souza in the shoulder before shooting Hutchins.
Hutchins was taken to hospital, where she was later pronounced dead.
Baldwin was interviewed by the Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office after her death because he showed immense emotion for his actions.
The first prosecutor, Andrea Reeb, was in charge of the case and it took a year to indict Baldwin, while she continued to give multiple interviews to the press.
News of the possible charges comes as Baldwin’s wife was spotted in New York City on Tuesday
Hilaria has long supported Alec in the aftermath of the shooting. In February, she posted a lengthy post on social media expressing her love for her husband
Baldwin with Hutchins (center) and other members of the film’s cast on set in Santa Fe while shooting the movie Rust. Baldwin fired a Colt .45 revolver which fatally shot Hutchins. He is now charged with involuntary manslaughter
Kari Morrissey and Jason Lewis, the special prosecutors on the case, said they will take the case to a grand jury within the next two months, where they will consider criminal charges against Baldwin.
Baldwin and his lawyers argued that he was made an example of by a fame-hungry, fanatical prosecutor.
Reeb resigned from the case before Mary Carmack-Altwies, Santa Fe’s elected district attorney, subsequently withdrew from the case 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.” Variation Australia reported.
After more than a year of investigation, the actor was charged with involuntary manslaughter in January, but that charge was dropped in April this year after his lawyers raised doubts about the weapon’s functionality.
They suggested that the weapon he used could have been modified before he handled it, which then led to it malfunctioning when he pulled the trigger.
A report made public in August this year found that the trigger had to be pulled to fire the revolver and that it had not been adjusted.
The special prosecutors against Baldwin said they plan to charge Baldwin.
“This decision does not absolve Mr. Baldwin of criminal guilt and the charges may be refiled,” Morrissey and Lewis said.
Baldwin, who has not yet commented on developments in his case, continues to claim it was a fatal accident for which he bears no responsibility.
Hutchins’ widower said Baldwin was initially compassionate and supportive of the family.
Baldwin was interviewed by the Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office after her death because he showed immense emotion for his actions. Hutchin’s widower said Baldwin was initially compassionate and supportive toward the family
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
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.
Rust’s assistant principal, Dave Halls, accepted a plea deal on charges of negligent use of a deadly weapon.
In March, Halls was sentenced to six months of supervised probation.
It is still unknown how live rounds ended up on the set.