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Charges against Alec Baldwin in the 2021 shooting death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on the set of the film “Rust” have been dropped.
Baldwin’s attorneys, Luke Nikas and Alex Spiro, confirmed to USA TODAY in a statement Thursday that prosecutors in New Mexico plan to drop the involuntary manslaughter charge.
“We are pleased with the decision to dismiss the case against Alec Baldwin and we encourage a proper investigation into the facts and circumstances of this tragic accident,” the statement says.
Prosecutors didn’t immediately comment on the case. It wasn’t clear whether charges could be refiled.
USA TODAY has reached out to the New Mexico district attorney’s office for comment.
Santa Fe prosecutors were pursuing involuntary manslaughter charges against the actor and the film’s weapons supervisor Hannah Gutierrez-Reed. Both pleaded not guilty.
Alec Baldwin movie ‘Rust’ to restart filming after prop gun shooting death of Halyna Hutchins
It’s unclear whether the charge against Gutierrez-Reed will also be dropped.
In a statement to USA TODAY Thursday, her attorneys say the “truth about what happened will come out and the questions that we have long sought answers for will be answered.”
“We fully expect at the end of this process that Hannah will also be exonerated,” Jason Bowles and Todd Bullion say.
Alec Baldwin faces new lawsuit from Halyna Hutchins’ parents, sister over ‘Rust’ shooting
Baldwin was pointing a pistol at Hutchins during a rehearsal on the Western film in October 2021 when the gun went off, killing Hutchins and wounding director Joel Souza.
Baldwin has said the gun went off accidentally and that he did not pull the trigger. An FBI forensic report found the weapon could not have fired unless the trigger was pulled.
The case against Baldwin had already been diminishing. A weapons charge that would have meant a much longer sentence had already been dismissed, and the first special prosecutor in the case resigned.
News of Badlwin’s charges being dropped comes a day after Rust Move Productions attorney Melina Spadone said via a representative that filming for “Rust” will resume Thursday at the Yellowstone Film Ranch.
The production company finalized a settlement last month with New Mexico workplace safety regulars over “serious” violations, agreeing to a $100,000 fine to resolve a scathing safety review that detailed unheeded complaints and misfires on set before Hutchins was shot and killed.
‘Rust’ announces new plans for Alec Baldwin movie, documentary on late Halyna Hutchins
The charges against Baldwin had marked a stunning fall for an A-list actor whose 40-year career included the early blockbuster “The Hunt for Red October” and a starring role in the sitcom “30 Rock,” as well as iconic appearances in Martin Scorsese’s “The Departed” and a film adaptation of David Mamet’s “Glengary Glen Ross.” In recent years, he was known for his impression of former President Donald Trump on “Saturday Night Live.”
“Rust” safety coordinator and assistant director David Halls pleaded no contest in March to a conviction for unsafe handling of a firearm and a suspended sentence of six months of probation.
Prosecutors downgrade Alec Baldwin manslaughter chargesin ‘Rust’ shooting case
Contributing: Marco della Cava, USA TODAY; Morgan Lee, Andrew Dalton, The Associated Press
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