Prosecutors officially charge Alex Baldwin with shootings on Rust

SANTA FE, NM (KRQE) – The Santa Fe District Attorney has filed formal charges against actor Alec Baldwin and gunsmith Hannah Gutierrez-Reed in the fatal shooting on the set of the movie ‘Rust.’ The filing comes nearly two weeks after District Attorney Mary Carmack-Altweis announced her plan to move forward with the case surrounding the on-set death of film cinematographer Halyna Hutchins.

According to indictment documents filed Tuesday, both Baldwin and Gutierrez-Reed each face involuntary manslaughter charges in Hutchin’s death. Hutchins was killed on October 21, 2021 at Bonzana Creek Ranch near Santa Fe after being shot by a gun Baldwin was holding.

As part of the filings filed Tuesday, prosecutors also released a 10-page probable cause statement in the case, which highlighted prosecutors’ arguments for the indictment of Baldwin and Gutierrez-Reed. In addition to these charges, the film’s assistant director, David Halls, reportedly pleaded guilty to a single misdemeanor of negligent use of a deadly weapon (unsafe handling). In that press release, the Attorney’s Office says the terms of its agreement include a suspended sentence and six months’ probation. Prosecutors said Halls turned over the gun that eventually killed Hutchins to Baldwin, while Gutierrez-Reed was in charge of the guns on set.

By naming Baldwin as both an actor and producer on the “Rust” set, the probable cause statement alleges, in part, that “on the day of shooting alone, evidence shows no fewer than a dozen reckless acts or omissions were committed in the short.” time before lunch and the time of the shooting, and this does not include Baldwin’s reckless handling of the firearm.”

Investigators also allege that Baldwin “by acting, or failing to act, or failing to act in his position as producer, directly contributed to and/or mitigated numerous reckless and dangerous acts during a very short period of time.”

Video footage shows Baldwin rehearsing for a scene when he pointed the gun at the camera operated by Hutchins. Loaded with an actual bullet, or “live cartridge,” the gun went off, killing Hutchins and wounding the film’s director, Joel Souza.

The case, which is expected to be tried by special prosecutor Andrea Reeb, has been highlighted by allegations of on-set negligence. Investigators allege that the gun Baldwin was wielding was not thoroughly checked before it was given to the actor.

In a Jan. 19 statement, Special Prosecutor Reeb said, “If any of these three people — Alec Baldwin, Hannah Gutierrez-Reed or [assistant director] David Halls – had her job done, Halyna Hutchins would be alive today. As simple as that.”

Baldwin has claimed that the gun misfired and has denied responsibility for the shooting. However, an FBI report contradicts Baldwin’s claim that the gun was accidentally fired.

Gutierrez-Reed told investigators in later interviews that she did not know how live cartridges got into the real gun. Gutierrez-Reed has filed a lawsuit in the case, blaming an ammunition supplier in part for the shooting. This lawsuit has been pending since January 2023.

This is an evolving message. This post will be updated.