A grand jury has indicted Alec Baldwin today on charges connected to the 2021 death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins, who was fatally shot by Baldwin during rehearsals for the film “Rust,” according to the Associated Press.
This development comes after special prosecutors brought the case before a Santa Fe grand jury this week, presenting new evidence related to the firearm that tragically took the life of 42-year-old Ukrainian cinematographer Halyna Hutchins.
On April 20th, 2023, all criminal charges against Baldwin were dropped despite the inconsistencies in his statements about whether he pulled the trigger. However, charges against on-set armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed proceeded as planned. The recent indictment of Baldwin raises the possibility of holding him criminally responsible for Hutchins’ death.
Special prosecutors, who spent approximately a day and a half presenting their findings to the grand jury, have not provided statements to the media. Baldwin’s attorneys, Luke Nikas and Alex Spiro expressed in an email their anticipation of a court appearance and their intention to contest the charges.
Baldwin, who served as the star and one of the main producers of the film, bore responsibility for its production. The production faced challenges, including several crew members quitting abruptly due to safety concerns. An accidental discharge of a firearm had occurred on set before the fatal incident, where Baldwin was rehearsing a scene involving firing a weapon at the camera. The shot struck both Hutchins and director Joel Souza, with Souza surviving and Hutchins tragically losing her life at the University of New Mexico Hospital.
Although current court proceedings are largely undisclosed, it has been confirmed that two witnesses seen at the courthouse this week were crew members from the film set. One witness was present during the fatal incident, while the other had been part of the group that walked offset the day before the shooting due to safety concerns.
If Baldwin is found criminally liable for Hutchins’ death, he could potentially face imprisonment.
