The tragedy happened on the set of the film “Rust” back in October 2021, when cameraman Galina Hutchins died due to a rifle misfire. Early reports indicated that Alec Baldwin was the one who pulled the trigger. Hutchins has been under investigation for fifteen months, and it was announced Thursday that Baldwin and the film’s gunsmith Hannah Gutierrez-Reed will be charged with two counts of manslaughter. Now Baldwin is reportedly “devastated” by the decision.
Before Santa Fe County District Attorney Mary Carmack-Altvis and Special Prosecutor
Andrea Reeb officially announced the charges, Alec Baldwin repeatedly shared his point of view. He constantly claimed that he didn’t actually fire the gun that killed Halina Hutchins. However, according to the conclusions of the forensic medical examination, the weapon could not be fired unless the person holding it pulled it out. According to a People source, here’s how Baldwin and his wife Hilaria make the decision:
They were prepared for all outcomes, but nothing can fully prepare you for this. They really lean on each other and try to focus on the kids.
Apparently, Alec Baldwin’s wife has been his “rock” for ten years throughout the ordeal, but he is very “distraught” and it is “heartbreaking” for his partner to see this. Given the circumstances, the couple is reportedly “doing everything possible to stay strong for the sake of the kids.” The Baldwins have seven children between the ages of three months and nine.
The decision was made after a “thorough examination of the evidence,” District Attorney Mary Carmack-Oltwis said in a statement. Her office eventually determined that “there is sufficient evidence” to bring charges against both the main character and Hannah Gutierrez-Reed. Special Prosecutor Andrea Rib also said the evidence “clearly shows” a pattern of “criminal disregard for safety” on the Rust set.
After the charges were announced a couple of days ago, Alec Baldwin’s lawyer, Luke Nikas, responded. He called the decision a “terrible miscarriage of justice,” and also said that the actor “has no reason to believe that there was a live bullet in the gun or anywhere on the set.” Nikas also claimed that Baldwin “relied on professionals” with whom he worked, who “assured him” that there were no live ammunition in the rifles. According to the lawyer, his client intends to fight back against the accusations and seems to believe that he will succeed.
In addition to the fact that Alec Baldwin is now facing criminal charges, Rust also faced maximum fines for the incident, and the actor talked about how he has since been fired from several jobs because of what happened on set. One of Baldwin’s films, “97 Minutes,” is currently on the 2023 release schedule for February 15, but only time will tell how these accusations will affect Baldwin and Hollywood itself in the future.
