Fatal shot during “Rust” filming: Baldwin is officially charged

New Mexico Attorneys are officially charging Alec Baldwin, 64, and Hannah Gutierrez-Reed after cinematographer Halyna Hutchins (1979-2021) was killed in an incident on the set of the film Rust. This is reported with reference to existing court documents. The actor and the armorer of the film are each accused of negligent homicide.

There is therefore sufficient suspicion that both Baldwin and Gutierrez-Reed could have acted negligently. According to US media reports, both face a sentence of 18 months in prison. In addition, there is the allegation of negligent homicide in connection with the use of firearms, which can be punished with up to five years in prison.

Lawyers maintain Baldwin’s innocence

The lawyers for the two accused protested the innocence of their clients. Baldwin’s attorney said that “this decision distorts Halyna Hutchins’ tragic death” and constitutes a “horrific miscarriage of justice.” Gutierrez-Reed’s attorneys said District Attorney Mary Carmack-Altwies “completely misunderstood” the facts.

In October 2021, while filming the western, Hutchins was hit by a bullet from a gun and died of her injuries. Director Joel Souza (49) was also injured. Baldwin was preparing for a scene when he pointed the gun at the camerawoman and a shot went off. The 64-year-old denied any responsibility for the incident. Among other things, he had asserted that he had not pulled the trigger, but that the shot had gone off. According to investigations, the gun contained live ammunition. So far it has not been clarified how it got to the film set in the first place.