BRING IN THE SCAPEGOAT - ‘Rust’ shooting: Alec Baldwin, armorer to face involuntary manslaughter charges
SANTA FE COUNTY, N.M. — Prosecutors on Thursday announced that they plan to pursue charges against actor Alec Baldwin and armorer Hannah Gutierrez Reed in connection with the 2021 shooting on the set of the movie “Rust.” Authorities said the film’s assistant director, David Halls, has also signed a plea agreement for one charge of negligent use of a deadly weapon.
Update 12:35 p.m. EST Jan. 19: An attorney for Gutierrez Reed said the charges announced against his client on Thursday were “the result of a very flawed investigation, and an inaccurate understanding of the full facts,” according to a statement obtained by The Associated Press.
“We intend to bring the full truth to light and believe Hannah will be exonerated of wrongdoing by a jury,” Jason Bowles said in the statement.
"… These charges are the result of a very flawed investigation, and an inaccurate understanding of the full facts. We intend to bring the full truth to light and believe Hannah will be exonerated of wrongdoing by a jury.”
— Andrew Dalton (@andyjamesdalton) January 19, 2023
Baldwin attorney: ‘We will fight these charges, and we will win’
Update 12:25 p.m. EST Jan. 19: An attorney for Baldwin said the decision to file charges “distorts Halyna Hutchins’ tragic death and represents a terrible miscarriage of justice” in a statement obtained by Axios.
“Mr. Baldwin had no reason to believe there was a live bullet in the gun — or anywhere on the movie set,” Luke Nikas said in a statement. “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.”
Baldwin and Gutierrez Reed will be charged with two counts each of involuntary manslaughter in Hutchins’ death, prosecutors announced Thursday.
DA: ‘Just because it’s an accident doesn’t mean that it’s not criminal’
Update 12:10 p.m. EST Jan. 19: Speaking to CNN, District Attorney Mary Carmack-Altwies acknowledged that the “Rust” shooting did not appear to be intentional, however, she said, “Just because it’s an accident doesn’t mean that it’s not criminal.”
“They didn’t mean to do it, they didn’t have the intent to kill, but it happened anyway and it happened because of more than mere negligence,” Carmack-Altwies said, “because they didn’t exercise due caution.”
She described the set of “Rust” as “a really fast and loose set.”
“If (Baldwin, Gutierrez Reed and Halls) had just done their basic duties, we would be standing here,” she said.
Baldwin, Gutierrez Reed, Halls had ‘basic duty’ to check gun used in shooting, DA says
Update 12 p.m. EST Jan. 19: District Attorney Mary Carmack-Altwies told CNN on Thursday that Baldwin, Gutierrez Reed and Halls had a “basic duty” to check the gun used on Oct. 21, 2021, before Baldwin shot and killed Hutchins, prompting criminal charges against the three.
Baldwin earlier claimed that the gun went off without him pulling the trigger and that Gutierrez Reed wrongfully put a live round in the gun rather than a blank one.
Carmack-Altwies said Thursday that Baldwin had to have pulled the trigger, pointing to an FBI forensic report that found the same. She said authorities might never know how the live round got into the gun. She added that the question was “not the point.”
“Three people should have been checking those projectiles and should have caught them,” she said.
Hutchins family: ‘We support the charges’
Update 11:45 a.m. EST Jan. 19: In a statement obtained by LawandCrime.com, the Hutchins family thanked authorities for investigating Halyna Hutchins’ death and finding that charges against Baldwin and Gutierrez Reed are appropriate.
“Our independent investigation also supports charges are warranted,” attorney Brian Panish said in the statement. “It is a comfort to the family that, in New Mexico, no one is above the law. We support the charges, will fully cooperate with this prosecution, and fervently hope the justice system works to protect the public and hold accountable those who break the law.”
Statement from attorney for Matt Hutchins, Halyna Hutchins’ husband - “Rust” cinematographer on charges against Alec Baldwin and armorer @LawCrimeNetwork pic.twitter.com/Y4MEIHBlrd
— Angenette Levy (@Angenette5) January 19, 2023
Baldwin, Gutierrez Reed to be ‘charged in the alternative’
Update 11:25 a.m. EST Jan. 19: Prosecutors said no charges will be filed in connection with Souza’s injuries.
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