SANTA FE, N.M. — Prosecutors in New Mexico have decided not to appeal a ruling that dismissed the involuntary manslaughter charge against Alec Baldwin in connection with the tragic shooting incident that resulted in the death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on the set of the film “Rust.” This decision was announced by the Santa Fe district attorney’s office on Monday.
Special Prosecutor Kari Morrissey has formally retracted the appeal following a court’s July ruling that dismissed the charges against Baldwin, who was involved in the incident during a rehearsal in October 2021. Baldwin’s defense team, consisting of attorneys Luke Nikas and Alex Spiro, expressed relief, stating that this decision is a vindication, affirming that Baldwin was not guilty of any crime amid this catastrophic event. They emphasized that justice systems in New Mexico remain functioning appropriately.
At the center of the dismissal was Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer’s mid-trial decision, which was influenced by claims that evidence was improperly withheld by law enforcement and prosecutors from the defense. Additional complications arose during the trial when it was revealed that a man had delivered ammunition to the Santa Fe County sheriff’s office earlier, suggesting a potential link to Hutchins’ death. While prosecutors argued that this ammunition was irrelevant, Baldwin’s legal team contended that vital evidence was hidden within different case files, leading to a successful motion to have the case dismissed.
The New Mexico attorney general could have pursued the appeal but opted not to, stating that there was no intent to rigorously advance the appeal for prosecution. Local prosecutors highlighted the numerous challenges they faced in seeking a fair and complete process in attempting to prosecute the case thoroughly.
Baldwin, who served as both the lead actor and co-producer of “Rust,” faced the tragic event when he pointed a gun at Hutchins during a rehearsal and the gun unexpectedly discharged, fatally wounding her and injuring director Joel Souza. Baldwin has claimed he merely pulled back the hammer of the revolver and did not pull the trigger when it fired.
In an earlier court case tied to the incident, movie weapons supervisor Hannah Gutierrez-Reed received a maximum sentence of one and a half years in prison after being convicted of involuntary manslaughter in connection with Hutchins’ death. Prosecutors attributed negligence to Gutierrez-Reed for accidentally bringing live rounds to the film set and for not regarding essential gun safety measures.
Meanwhile, assistant director and safety coordinator David Halls accepted a plea deal for the negligent use of a deadly weapon and received a sentence of six months of unsupervised probation. While a no contest plea does not equal a confession of guilt, it is treated as such during sentencing.
Baldwin and the producers of “Rust” are facing multiple civil lawsuits, including one filed by Hutchins’ family. Prosecutors mentioned that the occurrence has led to intensified discussions across the film industry, focusing on safety protocols, particularly involving firearms and live ammunition during productions.
