The tragic Rust shooting incident in October 2021 claimed the life of 42-year-old cinematographer Halyna Hutchins. Alec Baldwin and armory head Hannah Gutierrez-Reed were charged with two counts of involuntary manslaughter in the case. The incident happened while Baldwin was practicing his scene with a prop gun on the set when a live bullet was fired from the gun, fatally striking Hutchins and injuring director Joel Souza.
The Beetlejuice actor can now breathe a sigh of relief as the New Mexico prosecutors have decided to drop the charges against him in the Rust Shooting incident. And the 65-year old actor has shared his gratitude for his wife and attorney’s support through these tough times.
Alec Baldwin’s Manslaughter Charges Dropped
Alec Baldwin was charged with two counts of involuntary manslaughter for the Rust shooting incident in January 2023. The trial for the case was reportedly scheduled to begin next month, in May 2023. However, less than two weeks before that, New Mexico special prosecutors dropped the charges against the Emmy winner.
The statement released by the prosecutors, Kari Morrissey and Jason Lewis, said that the case requires further investigation, as new facts have come to light over the last few days. The statement added that the “follow-up investigation will remain active and ongoing.”
They also said that the decision does not “absolve Mr. Baldwin of criminal culpability, and charges may be refiled.” His attorney Luke Nikas appreciated the decision, saying that they are pleased with the decision and encourage a proper investigation into what went wrong on the film set.
The prosecutors also said that the claims against Hannah Gutierrez-Reed would remain unchanged. Her attorneys have reportedly said that they expect similar results for Gutierrez-Reed as well at the end of the investigation.
Alec Baldwin Thanks His Wife For Her Support
After the charges against Alec Baldwin were dropped, the actor shared a heartfelt message for his wife, Hilaria Baldwin. Sharing a snap with his wife on Instagram, the actor thanked her and his attorney Luke Nikas for their support in the legal battle.
He thanked his wife for standing by his side through these rough times. “I owe everything I have to this woman,” he said in the caption, further mentioning his attorney’s name, “And to you, Luke [Nikas].” Baldwin was spotted saying goodbye to his wife as he returned for the filming of Rust, which is expected to resume filming.
Source: Alec Baldwin via Instagram
