The charges against actor and director Alec Baldwin are being dropped. He was facing charges over the accidental shooting of a cinematographer on the set of the movie Rust.
Baldwin had faced two counts of involuntary manslaughter for the killing of Halyna Hutchins, 42. Sources familiar with the matter told ABC News that the charges would be dropped, and that was then confirmed by Variety magazine. Baldwin’s lawyers celebrated the outcome in a statement.
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“We are pleased with the decision to dismiss the case against Alec Baldwin, and we encourage a proper investigation into the facts and circumstances of this tragic accident,” Luke Nikas and Alex Spiro told the outlet.
Special prosecutors Kari Morrissey and Jason Lewis released a statement later Thursday. The two said new evidence had complicated the investigation, and they could not continue prosecution with the time restraints they were facing.
“Over the last few days and in preparation for the May 3, 2023, preliminary hearing, new facts were revealed that demand further investigation and forensic analysis in the case against Alexander ‘Alec’ Rae Baldwin, III,” the statement read.
“Consequently, we cannot proceed under the current time constraints and on the facts and evidence turned over by law enforcement in its existing form,” it added.
The prosecutors noted that this is not the end of possible legal trouble for Baldwin.
“We therefore will be dismissing the involuntary manslaughter charges against Mr. Baldwin to conduct further investigation. This decision does not absolve Mr. Baldwin of criminal culpability and charges may be refiled. Our follow-up investigation will remain active and on-going,” they said.
Baldwin was hit with the charges in January for the February 2021 shooting. He faced up to 18 months in prison. He was accused of negligently firing his Colt .45 pistol on set. The actor said he had no idea the gun was loaded and didn’t pull the trigger.
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Santa Fe District Attorney Mary Carmack-Altwies initially added a firearm enhancement charge, which had the potential to add another five years to Baldwin’s sentence. The charge was dropped when prosecutors discovered it did not apply at the time of the shooting.
A parallel case is being undertaken against Hannah Gutierrez Reed, the armorer who loaded the weapon that fired the fatal shot. The case against her is expected to continue.
