Alec Baldwin is once again facing a charge of involuntary manslaughter after a New Mexico grand jury revived the case against the actor by issuing an indictment on Friday.
The charge stems for the accidental shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on the set of the film Rust in October 2021. Baldwin was handling the gun when it accidentally fired, hitting Hutchins in the stomach and director Joel Souza in the shoulder; Hutchins died after being transported to the hospital.
Initial charges against Baldwin were dropped in April 2023. However, last fall prosecutors announced their intention to refile an involuntary manslaughter charge after new evidence emerged contradicting Baldwin’s previous claim that he didn’t pull the trigger.
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In New Mexico, an involuntary manslaughter conviction carries up to 18 months in prison.
The film’s armorer, Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, has also been charged with involuntary manslaughter, while its assistant director, Dave Halls, accepted a plea agreement to settle a charge of negligent use of a deadly weapon.
Production on Rust resumed in February 2023 after a settlement was reached with Hutchins’ widower. However, as of today the film remains unreleased.
