Alec Baldwin is to be charged with involuntary manslaughter over the unintentional capturing of a cinematographer on the set of the low-budget western “Rust,” a prosecutor said Thursday.

Baldwin was holding the Colt .45 during rehearsals for the film when it discharged, killing Halyna Hutchins and wounding director Joel Souza in October 2021.

The film’s armorer, Hannah Gutierrez Reed, who was responsible for the weapon, will also be charged with the same crime, New Mexico First Judicial District Attorney Mary Carmack-Altwies announced.

If convicted, they both face up to 18 months in jail and a $5,000 fine, but a firearm enhancement could take that sentence to five years.

“After a thorough review of the evidence and the laws of the state of New Mexico, I have determined that there is sufficient evidence to file criminal charges against Alec Baldwin and other members of the ‘Rust’ film crew,” Carmack-Altwies mentioned.

“On my watch, nobody is above the legislation, and everybody deserves justice.”

Baldwin, 64, has repeatedly said he was told by the crew that the gun was not loaded.

The former “30 Rock” star has additionally beforehand mentioned he didn’t pull the set off, although consultants have solid doubt on this declare.

Baldwin’s lawyer Luke Nikas vowed to beat the cost, which he known as a “horrible miscarriage of justice.”

“Mr. Baldwin had no reason to believe there was a live bullet in the gun — or anywhere on the movie set,” he mentioned.

“He relied on the professionals with whom he labored, who assured him the gun didn’t have dwell rounds. We will struggle these expenses, and we’ll win.”

– Live rounds on set –

Assistant director David Halls, who handed Baldwin the weapon and told him it was “cold” — business converse for secure — has agreed to plead responsible to negligent use of a lethal weapon.

He will serve a suspended sentence and 6 months of probation, a press release mentioned.

No expenses will probably be filed over the harm to Souza.

Baldwin, a co-producer of the film, and Gutierrez Reed have been charged with two counts of manslaughter involving totally different ranges of negligence.

A jury, if it convicts, would have the option to select which one.

Both counts entail a most 18-month jail time period, however one among them — involuntary manslaughter in the fee of a lawful act — contains an added obligatory penalty as a result of a gun was concerned in the demise.

The firearm enhancement makes the crime punishable by 5 years in jail.

“If any one among these three individuals — Alec Baldwin, Hannah Gutierrez-Reed or David Halls — had performed their job, Halyna Hutchins can be alive immediately. It’s that straightforward,” said Andrea Reeb, the special prosecutor appointed by the district attorney.

“The evidence clearly shows a pattern of criminal disregard for safety on the ‘Rust’ film set.

“In New Mexico, there is no room for film sets that don’t take our state’s commitment to gun safety and public safety seriously.”

A prolonged investigation has checked out how the dwell spherical — and 5 others — acquired onto the set, with consideration targeted on the armorer and ammunition provider.

Investigators discovered Gutierrez Reed had put the deadly spherical in Baldwin’s gun, as an alternative of utilizing a similar-looking dummy spherical.

Detectives probing the tragedy spoke of a lax perspective to security whereas filming, and crew members have subsequently claimed that corners have been lower.

The accident despatched shockwaves by means of Hollywood and led to requires a complete ban on the usage of actual weapons on set.

Industry consultants have mentioned there are already stringent security guidelines in place and that the one method for an accident like this to have occurred was for them to have been ignored.

Baldwin final 12 months reached an undisclosed settlement with the household of 42-year-old Hutchins.

It was additionally introduced on the time that manufacturing on the low-budget film would restart this 12 months.

Widower Matthew Hutchins, who will grow to be an govt producer, mentioned “all the unique principal gamers” would return to the set.

Souza said he would devote his work on the film “to honoring Halyna’s legacy and making her proud.”

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