Alec Baldwin has been indicted on an involuntary manslaughter charge by a New Mexico grand jury.
The indictment is related to the fatal shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on the set of his film Rust in 2021.
If found guilty, Baldwin could face up to 18 months in prison.
BREAKING
— Sebastian Gorka DrG (@SebGorka) January 19, 2024
ALEC Baldwin indicted for manslaughter.
Forensic testing has determined there is no way the prop gun fired without Baldwin pulling the trigger. pic.twitter.com/HYjvWZUIGr
Last year, Alec Baldwin was charged with two counts of involuntary manslaughter for the shooting death of Halyna Hutchins.
Those charges were later dropped.
Prosecutors requested a second analysis of the gun Alec Baldwin used.
Despite Baldwin’s repeated denial of pulling the trigger, a firearms expert has contradicted this claim, stating, “Although Alec Baldwin repeatedly denies pulling the trigger, given the tests, findings and observations reported here, the trigger had to be pulled or depressed sufficiently to release the fully cocked or retracted hammer of the evidence revolver.”
ABC News reported:
A grand jury has indicted Alec Baldwin on an involuntary manslaughter charge in the deadly shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on the New Mexico set of “Rust,” months after prosecutors dropped their case against the actor over her death.
The indictment charges Baldwin, 65, with involuntary manslaughter (negligent use of a firearm) or, in the alternative, involuntary manslaughter (without due caution or circumspection), both fourth-degree felonies.
In response to Friday’s indictment, Baldwin’s attorneys, Luke Nikas and Alex Spiro of Quinn Emanuel, said, “We look forward to our day in court.”
Special prosecutors investigating the “Rust” shooting said in October 2023 that they believed Baldwin had “criminal culpability” in the deadly shooting. They said at the time they planned to present the case to the grand jury to determine whether probable cause existed to charge him.
The actor was practicing a cross-draw on the Santa Fe set in October 2021 when the gun fired, striking Hutchins and director Joel Souza, who suffered a non-life-threatening injury.
Baldwin was initially charged with two counts of involuntary manslaughter, before special prosecutors dropped the case against the actor in April 2023. At the time, they noted their investigation remained “active and ongoing.”
The attorneys representing the family of Hutchins and the film’s script supervisor in civil lawsuits over the shooting said in a statement Friday they “are looking forward to the criminal trial which will determine if he should be convicted for the untimely death of Halyna.”
The charge carries a sentence of up to 18 months in prison if convicted.
