Alec Baldwin and armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed are officially charged with involuntary manslaughter after a freak shooting incident in 2021 in the set of the film “Rust”.
Actor- producer Alec Baldwin and his staff responsible for production firearms on set, Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, were charged with involuntary manslaughter in the 2021 shooting incident in New Mexico, reports said.
While rehearsing for the filming of the movie “Rust,” Baldwin held a supposed prop gun and aimed it towards cinematographer Halyna Hutchins when the gun went off, killing her and wounding film director Joel Souza.
"After a thorough review of the evidence and the laws of the state of New Mexico, I have determined that there is sufficient evidence to file criminal charges against Alec Baldwin and other members of the 'Rust' film crew," District Attorney Mary Carmack-Altwies said in a statement reported by CBS News.
"On my watch, no one is above the law, and everyone deserves justice."
Aside from the two counts of involuntary manslaughter slapped on Baldwin and Gutierrez-Reed, a fourth-degree felony punishable by up to a year and a half in jail and a $5,000 fine were imposed on them.
Additionally, a provision that could result in mandatory five years of jail time could be added to the existing charges as the crime was committed with a gun.
According to The Guardian, Baldwin's attorney Luke Nikas called the charges "a terrible miscarriage of justice,” due largely to the fact that there is no way that his client had any reason to believe that the gun had live bullets in it.
"Mr. Baldwin had no reason to believe there was a live bullet in the gun – or anywhere on the movie set," Nikas said.
"He relied on the professionals with whom he worked, who assured him the gun did not have live rounds. We will fight these charges, and we will win."
On the other hand, Gutierrez-Reed's attorneys Jason Bowles and Todd Bullion strongly stood with their client, calling the shooting a “tragic accident,” that no one could have seen coming.
"These charges are the result of a very flawed investigation, and an inaccurate understanding of the full facts," Bowles and Bullion said in a statement.
"We intend to bring the full truth to light and believe Hannah will be exonerated of wrongdoing by a jury."
Despite the new developments, the production of the film is set to return this 2023 with Mr Hutchins on board as an executive producer.
Tags: #crime, #shooting, #accident