NEW MEXICO, USA – Hollywood Actor Alec Baldwin is now free from the legal repercussions of the tragic “Rust” film set shooting, as charges against him have been dropped, according to a statement released by Baldwin’s attorneys Luke Nikas and Alex Spiro on Thursday, April 20, 2023.
The fatal accident, which occurred in October 2021, took the life of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins and injured the film’s director, Joel Souza.
“We are pleased with the decision to dismiss the case against Alec Baldwin and we encourage a proper investigation into the facts and circumstances of this tragic accident,” the statement from Baldwin’s attorneys read.
Initially, Baldwin and the film set’s armorer, Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, were charged with involuntary manslaughter in January for their alleged role in the fatal shooting. Both parties pleaded not guilty.
The office of New Mexico First Judicial District Attorney Mary Carmack-Altwies, responsible for the charges against Baldwin, has yet to provide a comment on the case’s dismissal.
In March, Andrea Reeb, a special prosecutor assigned to the Santa Fe-area case, resigned following claims from Baldwin’s legal team that her participation was “unconstitutional”.
The 42-year-old Hutchins was a trailblazer for women in the film industry and was known for her innovative filmmaking. Her untimely death has led to calls for increased safety measures on U.S. film sets, with Baldwin himself advocating for police officers to be present to ensure weapon safety.
Representatives for Gutierrez-Reed have not yet responded to requests for comment on the recent developments.
