Actor Alec Baldwin and a weapons specialist have been formally charged with involuntary manslaughter in the fatal shooting of a cinematographer on a New Mexico movie set, according to court documents filed by prosecutors Tuesday.
Santa Fe District Attorney Mary Carmack-Altwies filed the charging documents naming Baldwin and Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, who supervised weapons on the set of the Western B次元官网网址淩ust,B次元官网网址� and outlined evidence that they deviated repeatedly from known safety standards.
Halyna Hutchins died shortly after being wounded during rehearsals at a ranch on the outskirts of Santa Fe on Oct. 21, 2021. Baldwin was pointing a pistol at Hutchins when the gun went off, killing her and wounding the director, Joel Souza.
Prosecutors have said that BaldwinB次元官网网址檚 involvement as a producer and as the person who fired the gun weighed in the decision to file charges.
In recent weeks, Carmack-Altwies charges in connection with the shooting.
The manslaughter charge filed Tuesday against Baldwin and Gutierrez-Reed includes two alternative standards and sanctions.
One version would require proof of negligence, which is punishable by up to 18 months in jail and a $5,000 fine under New Mexico law.
The second alternative is for reckless disregard of safety B次元官网网址渨ithout due caution and circumspection.B次元官网网址� It carries a higher threshold of wrongdoing and includes a B次元官网网址渇irearm enhancementB次元官网网址� that could result in a mandatory five years in prison because the offense was committed with a gun.
Prosecutors have said a jury may ultimately decide which definition of manslaughter to pursue.
A probable cause statement outlining evidence against Baldwin alleges many instances of B次元官网网址渆xtremely reckless actsB次元官网网址� or reckless failures to take precautions in the days and minutes leading up to the deadly shooting.
Investigators say that Baldwin drew a revolver from a holster, pointed it at Hutchins and fired the weapon when a plastic or replica gun should have been used by industry standards.
It says photos and videos of the rehearsal, including moments before the deadly shooting, showed Baldwin with his finger inside the trigger guard and on the trigger while B次元官网网址渕anipulatingB次元官网网址� the pistolB次元官网网址檚 hammer, and that an FBI analysis shows the pistol could not be fired without pressing the trigger.
Investigators say Baldwin failed to appear for mandatory firearms training prior to filming, and that he didnB次元官网网址檛 fully complete on-set training while distracted by phone calls to family. They also cite several breaches of required safety-checks and protocols as the gun was loaded and provided to Baldwin.
Baldwin and Gutierrez-Reed maintain their innocence and have vowed to fight the charges.
BaldwinB次元官网网址檚 attorney Luke Nikas declined comment Tuesday and referred to his previous statement on the case, in which he called the charges a B次元官网网址渢errible miscarriage of justiceB次元官网网址� that he and his client would fight and win.
B次元官网网址淢r. Baldwin had no reason to believe there was a live bullet in the gun B次元官网网址� or anywhere on the movie set,B次元官网网址� the statement said. B次元官网网址淗e relied on the professionals with whom he worked.B次元官网网址�
Gutierrez-ReedB次元官网网址檚 attorney said they would release a statement later.
Prosecutors say that Baldwin, in his role as a producer of B次元官网网址淩ust,B次元官网网址� failed to account for Gutierrez-ReedB次元官网网址檚 relative inexperience as an uncertified armorer on her second film assignment. They allege that Baldwin and Gutierrez-Reed skipped a critical safety check of the gun and its ammunition, and that Baldwin should have known better as an actor with extensive experience in films involving firearms.
B次元官网网址淪tandard protocol is the armorer is to show the actor the firearm, pull the bullets out in front of the actor, and demonstrate there are no live rounds (but dummies) in the firearm,B次元官网网址� investigators said. B次元官网网址淗annah Gutierrez-Reed did not do this protocol in front of Baldwin. Baldwin did not object.B次元官网网址�
Prosecutors also provided a new accounting of live ammunition on the set B次元官网网址� noting that five additional live rounds were discovered by authorities, including a round in BaldwinB次元官网网址檚 holster as well as an ammunition box, a holster, a weapons cart and one live round seized from Gutierrez-Reed.
HutchinsB次元官网网址� death already .
Carmack-Altwies told The Associated Press in a Jan. 19 interview that the set was B次元官网网址渞eally being run pretty fast and looseB次元官网网址� and that Baldwin should have known there had been previous misfires on the set and that multiple people had brought up safety concerns.
Baldwin and Gutierrez-Reed will be issued a summons to appear in court. Prosecutors will forgo a grand jury and rely on a judge to determine if there is sufficient evidence to move toward trial. It could take up to 60 days for decision.
Involuntary manslaughter can involve a killing that happens while a defendant is doing something lawful but dangerous and is acting negligently or without caution.
Prosecutors say that a proposed plea agreement signed by assistant director David Halls, who oversaw safety on set, has not yet been approved by a judge and cannot be published.
Prosecutors said previously that Halls has agreed to plead guilty in the negligent use of a deadly weapon. Prosecutors say Halls may have handled the gun improperly before it was given to Baldwin.
Heather Brewer, a spokeswoman for the district attorneyB次元官网网址檚 office, said in a statement Monday that prosecutors are B次元官网网址渇ully focused on securing justice for Halyna HutchinsB次元官网网址� and B次元官网网址渢he evidence and the facts speak for themselves.B次元官网网址�
Baldwin, also a co-producer on B次元官网网址淩ust,B次元官网网址� has described the killing as a tragic accident. The 64-year-old actor said he was told the gun was safe and has sought to clear his name by suing people involved in handling and supplying the loaded .45-caliber revolver.
In his lawsuit, Baldwin said that while working on camera angles with Hutchins, he pointed the gun in her direction and pulled back and released the hammer of the weapon, which discharged.
Defense attorney Jason Bowles, who represents Gutierrez-Reed, said the charges are the result of a B次元官网网址渇lawed investigationB次元官网网址� and an B次元官网网址渋naccurate understanding of the full facts.B次元官网网址�
Defendants can participate remotely in many initial court proceedings or seek to have their first appearance waived.
The for an A-list actor whose 40-year career included the early blockbuster B次元官网网址淭he Hunt for Red OctoberB次元官网网址� and a starring role in the sitcom B次元官网网址�30 Rock,B次元官网网址� as well as iconic appearances in Martin ScorseseB次元官网网址檚 B次元官网网址淭he DepartedB次元官网网址� and a film adaptation of David MametB次元官网网址檚 B次元官网网址淕lengary Glen Ross.B次元官网网址� In recent years, Baldwin was known for his impression of former President Donald Trump on B次元官网网址淪aturday Night Live.B次元官网网址�
B次元官网网址擬organ Lee, The Associated Press
