The 65-year-old actor, Alec Baldwin, will not face any criminal charges for the death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on the set of the Rust movie.
Baldwin had previously been charged with two counts of involuntary manslaughter for the October 2021 incident.
However, it has now been confirmed that all charges against him have been dropped, coinciding with the news that he will resume filming the movie.
In a statement released by his lawyers, they expressed their satisfaction with the decision and called for a proper investigation into the tragedy’s circumstances. Last month, the Santa Fe District Attorney, who had charged Baldwin with involuntary manslaughter, announced that she would step aside from the lawsuit to focus on broader public safety needs in the state of New Mexico.
The incident occurred when Baldwin discharged a prop gun, injuring the film’s director Joel Souza and killing Halyna. Baldwin and the film’s armourer, Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, were both initially charged with involuntary manslaughter, but no charges were filed related to the non-fatal shooting of the director. If convicted, Baldwin could have faced up to 18 months in prison.
Baldwin also requested the dismissal of a lawsuit filed by Halyna’s parents, claiming that it was an attempt to obtain compensation following their daughter’s death.