Alec Baldwin is to be charged with involuntary manslaughter over the death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on a set for the film Rust.
Hutchins died after a prop gun held by the actor Baldwin was discharged during rehearsals for the western film in October 2021. Director Joel Souza was also wounded in the incident on the Bonanza Creek Ranch set in Santa Fe, New Mexico.
Almost a year later, in October 2022, Baldwin and the Rust production company reached a settlement for an undisclosed amount with her family after a wrongful death lawsuit filed by her husband Matthew, and announced that production of the film would resume this year.
Santa Fe’s district attorney Mary Carmack-Altwies had been granted additional funding of $317,750 (about £282,900) to investigate the high-profile case, and said after the announcement of the civil settlement that it would have no impact on the criminal investigation – as “no one is above the law”.
The decision was announced on Thursday by Ms Carmack-Altwies and special prosecutor Andrea Reeb, coming about three months after they received the final report on the incident from the Santa Fe sheriff’s office.
The undisclosed settlement between Hutchins’ family, Baldwin and Rust Movie Productions was announced on 5 October 2022.
“I have no interest in engaging in recriminations or attribution of blame (to the producers or Mr Baldwin),” Matthew Hutchins said.
“All of us believe Halyna’s death was a terrible accident. I am grateful that the producers and the entertainment community have come together to pay tribute to Halyna’s final work.”
Rust Movie Productions, through attorney Melina Spadone, said it marked “an important step forward in celebrating Halyna’s life and honouring her work”.
Luke Nikas, Baldwin’s lawyer, said: “Throughout this difficult process, everyone has maintained the specific desire to do what is best for Halyna’s son. We are grateful to everyone who contributed to the resolution of this tragic and painful situation.”
A number of other lawsuits have also been filed in relation to the shooting.
