Alexander Baldwin, better known as Alec Baldwin, is an American actor who has appeared in a number of films and television shows, including Tim Burton’s Beetlejuice. In October of 2021, Baldwin shot and killed cinematographer Halyna Hutchins with a prop gun on the set of the western film Rust, which begins production again this month.
According to the district attorney, Baldwin’s involvement as a producer as well as the actor who fired the gun influenced the decision to file charges. Involuntary manslaughter can refer to a killing that occurs while the defendant is doing something legal but dangerous and acting negligently or recklessly. Under New Mexico law, where the shooting took place, the charge is a fourth-degree felony punishable by up to 18 months in prison and a $5,000 fine. Because the offense was committed with a gun, the charge also includes a provision that could result in a mandatory five-year prison sentence.
Baldwin informed detectives that he had been assured that the gun he was training with on that day did not contain live bullets, sat down for an extensive television interview, sought financial indemnification from the case, and then sued members of the film crew, claiming they were responsible for handing him a loaded gun.
However, on January 19th, prosecutors announced that they would charge him with two counts of involuntary manslaughter in the death of Halyna Hutchins saying he had a duty to ensure the revolver was safe to handle.
Special prosecutor Andrea Reeb told AP News, “We’re trying to definitely make it clear that everybody’s equal under the law, including A-list actors like Alec Baldwin. And we also want to make sure that the safety of the film industry is addressed and things like this don’t happen again.”
It won’t just be Alec Baldwin being charged but also Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, who was responsible for the weapons on set and loaded the gun that day. Gutierrez is being charged with two counts of involuntary manslaughter. Dave Halls, the film’s first assistant director who handed the gun to Mr. Baldwin, agreed to a plea deal on a charge of the negligent use of a deadly weapon.
This case will raise a number of questions and concerns about gun safety, particularly on set. Many crew members have spoken out about the production team failing to follow safety instructions. It is possible that additional safety protocols will be implemented to ensure the safety of everyone on set in the future.
