Actor Alec Baldwin is set to face arraignment on Thursday in New Mexico following new charges of involuntary manslaughter related to the tragic 2021 shooting incident on the set of the film “Rust.” Officials announced the arraignment, scheduled in the First Judicial District Court in Santa Fe, will be conducted virtually.
Baldwin’s legal representatives, Luke Nikas and Alex Spiro, have not yet responded to requests for comment. In a prior statement, they expressed anticipation for their day in court when the new charges were initially disclosed earlier this month.
The fatal shooting occurred on October 21, 2021, resulting in the death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins. The reinstated charges against Baldwin followed the dropping of previous charges. The indictment by a New Mexico grand jury was prompted by an independent forensic test indicating that Baldwin had to pull the trigger during a rehearsal for the live round to be fired.
Facing potential imprisonment for involuntary manslaughter, Baldwin denies pulling the trigger and disclaims responsibility for Hutchins’ death. The FBI’s previous test on the firearm yielded similar findings to the independent forensic examination.
The film’s director, Joel Souza, was also injured by the same bullet that killed Hutchins during the production outside Santa Fe. The assistant director, David Halls, who handed the gun to Baldwin, stated that he informed the actor the weapon was “cold,” meaning it did not contain live ammunition. Halls claimed ignorance of the loaded gun. As part of a plea agreement, Halls received a suspended sentence, a fine, community service, and a firearms safety class for negligent use of a deadly weapon.
Hannah Gutierrez, the movie’s chief weapons handler who handled the gun before Halls, faces involuntary manslaughter charges and is scheduled for trial later this year. Previous charges against Baldwin were dismissed by prosecutors due to evidence suggesting modifications to the revolver’s hammer, potentially allowing it to fire without the trigger being pulled.
