In response to the murder of Halyna Hutchins, Alec Baldwin has vowed to fight the involuntary manslaughter accusations and called the prosecution’s actions “a tragic miscarriage of justice.”
15 months after the 42-year-old cameraman was fatally shot by the actor while working on the Rust filming in New Mexico, it was revealed that Baldwin, 64, and armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, 25, would be charged with involuntary manslaughter on Thursday.
This judgment, according to Baldwin’s attorney Luka Nikas, “distorts Halyna Hutchins’ tragic death,” and he reiterated his client’s earlier objections by claiming that the actor’s coworkers “assured him the gun did not carry live ammunition.”
The attorney declared, “We will fight these allegations, and we will prevail.”
The First Judicial District Attorney of New Mexico, Mary Carmack-Altwies, however, vowed that Baldwin would not receive a “free pass,” accusing the actor of operating a “fast and loose set” with several safety violations.
Since accidently shooing Hutchins to death on October 21, 2021, Baldwin has consistently placed the blame elsewhere.
In a now-famous interview with ABC News anchor George Stephanopoulos in December 2021, he stated it was ‘very improbable’ that he would be charged with anything and maintained he did not feel responsible for Hutchins’ death.
Baldwin said that the prop managers were to blame for not making sure the rifle was loaded before giving it to him.
After accidently killing Hutchins, the actor revealed how much he “loved” her and had become close with her widower. He also insisted that police at the scene promised him he would not be charged in the shooting.
Authorities in New Mexico declared on Thursday that he would be accused of involuntary manslaughter in the death of Hutchins.
District Attorney Carmack-Altwies stated: “There was such a lack of safety and safety regulations on that set” in an interview with CNN following the announcement. On the set, simulated rounds were mixed in with live rounds.
Nobody was checking those, or at the very least, they weren’t checked regularly.
They were somehow loaded into a gun and given to Alec Baldwin, who failed to check it or take the necessary precautions to ensure his safety or the safety of anyone else.
Halyna Hutchins stated, “He pointed the rifle towards Halyna Hutchins and he pulled the trigger.”
The decision, she added, was made based on the “totality of the circumstances,” adding, “This was a really rapid and casual set.” And that no one was carrying out their duties.
She claimed that even if it might have been a mistake, Baldwin “doesn’t get a free pass” because he is a celebrity.
“Just because something happened by mistake doesn’t make it not illegal.” Even though they had no intention of killing, they didn’t intend to do it, it nevertheless happened, and more than just carelessness contributed to it.
Many actors, both A-listers and others, that we have spoken to have stated that they always check their firearms or have someone else check it in front of them.
Actors are not entitled to special treatment just because they are actors. Everyone is treated equally under the law.
Hannah Gutierrez-Reed pledged to contest the allegations as well.
Hannah is, and has always been, very sensitive and sad about this horrible accident, according to a statement from her attorneys. She did not, however, kill someone accidentally.
These accusations are the consequence of a seriously poor inquiry and an incomplete knowledge of the entire picture.
We aim to reveal the whole story and are confident that a jury will find Hannah innocent of all charges.
If found guilty, Baldwin and Gutierrez-Reed, who loaded the prop gun that killed Hutchins, could spend up to 18 months in jail.
The Assistant Director, Dave Halls, has admitted guilt to the charge of careless use of a deadly weapon.
The judgment was made confidently, according to the prosecution. Halyna’s family, through their attorney, made a statement praising it.
We would like to express our gratitude to the Santa Fe Sheriff and the District Attorney for having completed their thorough investigation and coming to the conclusion that Halyna Hutchins’s death was committed with a deliberate disregard for human life, necessitating the filing of involuntary manslaughter charges.
“Our independent study further demonstrates that charges are appropriate.” The fact that no one is above the law in New Mexico is consoling to the family.
We truly hope that the legal system works to safeguard the public and bring those who break the law accountable. We support the charges and will fully cooperate with this case.
If any one of these three individuals—Alec Baldwin, Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, or David Halls—had carried out their duties, Halyna Hutchins would still be alive today, according to special prosecutor Andrea Reeb, who announced the allegations. That’s how easy it is.
