- Alec Baldwin is an actor known for his roles in It’s Complicated, The Departed, and more.
- On Oct. 21, 2021, Alec was working on the set of the film, Rust, when the movie’s cinematographer, Halyna Hutchins, was fatally shot and killed by a prop gun.
- Over one year after the incident, Alec has been charged with involuntary manslaughter, to which he has pleaded not guilty to as of Feb. 23, 2023.
- On Feb. 27, 2023, three Rust crewmembers filed a lawsuit against Alec, as reported by TMZ.
UPDATE 2/28/23 12.01 AM EST: Three Rust crewmembers have filed a lawsuit against Alec Baldwin, alleging that she was "3 of 7 people in the church set the day the shooting happened." In addition, the three film crew members allege that the film's armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed "lacked essential experience."
Alec Baldwin, a 30 Rock alumnus known for starring in many well-known films and television programs, including It's Complicated, The Departed, and more, died in the tragic shooting of Halyna Hutchins on October 21, 2021. Below you can learn more about Halyna, Alec's charges, the trial, and more.
What Happened On the Set Of 'Rust'?
Alec's latest project is Rust, in which he is not only a star, but also a producer. Among the actors who play him are Supernatural's Jensen Ackles, Vikings' Travis Fimmel, and Titanic actress Frances Fisher, who were shot during filming in New Mexico in October 2021. The film's armorer, Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, is also being investigated in connection with the filmmaker's tragic death.
According to a DEADLINE, Santa Fe County Sheriff's officers were dispatched to the Bonanza Creek Ranch movie set in the western Rust on October 21, 2021 when an 911 caller reported a shooting on the set; she died there; the film's director, Joel Souza, 49, also suffered injuries; he recovered and was treated at Christus St. Vincent Regional Medical facility.
Alec Baldwin's Charges and Trial
Alec was found guilty of two counts of involuntary manslaughter on January 19, 2023, according to Santa Fe District Attorney Mary Carmack-Altwies. The second charge also includes a firearm enhancement, which might add to his sentence by another five years.
D.A. Carmack-Altwies, has since downgraded the charges and removed the firearm enhancement altogether as of February 20, 2023, according to CNBC. The jail time has also been reduced from a "minimum of five years" to a "maximum of 18 months," according to Heather Brewer's statement.
Alec and assistant director David Halls, both expected to appear in court "remotely" on February 24, but both filed a waiver for their first court appearance, according to ABC News. Alec and assistant director David Halls, both agreed to meet in court "remotely" on February 24, 2023. Finally, District Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer has set conditions to Alec's conditional release, which includes that he must "never carry any firearms, not consume alcohol, and have no contact with any
What Has Alec Said Since the Incident?
Alec spoke with George Stephanopoulos of Good Morning America in December 2021 for an in-depth analysis of the fatal shooting. One of Alec's main statements was that he would not be held accountable for the "live bullet" in the prop gun. "Someone put a live bullet in a pistol, a bullet that wasn't even supposed to be on the property," he said at the time.
Alec said he was unaware of what happened on the tragic day of the shoot. I don't know how that bullet got stuck in the pistol. I'm not sure, but I'm for anything that will take us to a place where this is less likely to happen again.
Who Was Charged?
Alec and Hannah were also charged with involuntary manslaughter in the Rust film team. According to ABC News, the film's armorer was also charged with two counts of involuntary manslaughter on January 31, 2023, and her hearing will be on February 24. David has since admitted to "no contest" in relation to the charge of "negligent use of a deadly weapon."
In a statement released on January 30, 2023, Brewer stated that the district attorney and the special prosecutor are fully focused on securing justice for Halyna Hutchins. "This decision distorts Halyna Hutchins' tragic death and represents a terrible miscarriage of justice," said Alec's attorney Luke Nikas of Quinn Emanuel.
Matthew Hutchins, Halyna's husband, wrote in an interview on ABC News about his wrongful death lawsuit against Alec Baldwin and the film's producers in October 2022. "Our case will be dismissed as part of that settlement," Matthew said at the time. "I have no interest in engaging in recriminations or attribution of blame," he said.
According to ABC News, Rust will continue production and begin filming sometime in spring 2023. The producers revealed earlier in February 2023 that Joel will return to direct the film. Matthew will also join the crew as the film's executive producer and cinematographer Bianca Cline.
