Alec Baldwin and the film’s armorer will both be prosecuted for the accidental shooting death of Halyna Hutchins.

During the production of the movie Rust in 2021, cinematographer Halyna Hutchins tragically lost her life after Alec Baldwin discharged a live round from a prop gun unknowingly. This incident triggered a thorough investigation to ascertain the responsible parties and the factors that led to the tragedy. Baldwin maintained he did not intentionally pull the trigger, while armorer Hannah Gutierrez Reed claimed the ammunition was meant to be inert.

This week, a verdict has been reached. Both Baldwin and Gutierrez Reed will face charges of involuntary manslaughter for the death of Halyna Hutchins. It is alleged that while the tragedy was not deliberate, they neglected to ensure the safety of the prop gun before it was used on set.

Mary Carmack-Altwies, the First Judicial District Attorney of New Mexico, emphasized, “Every individual handling a firearm bears the responsibility to ensure that if they point it at someone and pull the trigger, it will not discharge a projectile that could cause harm or death.”

A jury will be convened to determine the court where the trial will take place. If convicted, both Baldwin and Gutierrez Reed could face a maximum of 18 months in prison and a $5,000 fine. However, the involvement of a firearm in the incident might lead to a prison term of up to five years.

Carmack-Altwies highlighted that “an accident does not exempt it from being considered a crime.”

She explained, “Our involuntary manslaughter law pertains to unintentional deaths. Unintentional means there was no intent to cause harm. The incident occurred due to more than mere negligence… There was a lack of proper care or prudence, and that is the crux of the matter in this case.”