Alec Baldwin: Prosecutors will consider refiling manslaughter charges
Alec Baldwin: Prosecutors in New Mexico are considering refiling charges against actor Alec Baldwin. (Mark Sagliocco/Getty Images for National Geogra)
ByBob D'Angelo, Cox Media Group National Content Desk
SANTA FE, N.M. — Prosecutors in New Mexico will convene a grand jury to determine if an involuntary manslaughter charge should be refiled against actor Alec Baldwin in the fatal shooting of a cinematographer on the set of the movie “Rust” in 2021.
Charges were formally dropped against Baldwin in April after the shooting that killed Halyna Hutchins on the set of the movie.
“We believe that based on our lengthy and detailed investigation that it is appropriate for a grand jury in New Mexico to make a decision on whether the case should proceed,” one of the prosecutors, Kari Morrissey, told The New York Times on Tuesday.
Breaking News: A grand jury will weigh whether to recharge Alec Baldwin in the 2021 fatal shooting of a cinematographer on the set of the film “Rust.” https://t.co/7Nies5WFyJ
In a joint statement, special prosecutors Morrissey and Jason Lewis said they would bring the case to a grand jury “within the next two months,” Variety reported.
“After extensive investigation over the past several months, additional facts have come to light that we believe show Mr. Baldwin has criminal culpability in the death of Halyna Hutchins and the shooting of Joel Souza,” Morrissey and Lewis said. “We believe the appropriate course of action is to permit a panel of New Mexico citizens to determine from here whether Mr. Baldwin should be held over for criminal trial.”
The Santa Fe County District Attorney had initially charged Baldwin with involuntary manslaughter under a version of a New Mexico firearm law passed months after the deadly shooting in October 2021, the Times reported.
Baldwin’s attorney, Luke Nikas, called the decision “unfortunate” adding that he would fight the case in court, according to Variety.
“It is unfortunate that a terrible tragedy has been turned into this misguided prosecution,” Nikas said. “We will answer any charges in court.”
Baldwin, 65, was holding a gun on Oct. 21, 2021, while Hutchins was setting up a scene for “Rust,” when the Colt .45 revolver went off, authorities said. A bullet hit and killed Hutchins and injured the movie’s director, Joel Souza. Baldwin has maintained that he did not pull the trigger and that the gun went off accidentally.
In court records obtained by KRQE, prosecutors said that Halls handed Baldwin the gun that killed Hutchins, and that “Rust” armorer Hannah Gutierrez Reed was in charge of weapons on the set.
Reed is facing charges of tampering with evidence and two counts of involuntary manslaughter in the shooting, NBC News reported. She is facing a maximum sentence of 18 months in prison and approximately $5,000 in fines if she is convicted after her trial, which begins in February, according to Deadline.
Reed has pleaded not guilty.
In April, special prosecutors dismissed the involuntary manslaughter charge against Baldwin, The Associated Press reported. They later changed their minds and began considering refining the charge after receiving a new analysis of the gun, according to the news organization.
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Photos: Alec Baldwin through the years Here are some memorable photos of actor Alec Baldwin through the years. (Juan Naharro Gimenez/Getty Images)
Photos: Alec Baldwin through the years 1985: Author Gore Vidal poses with actors that will appear in the NBC-TV miniseries "Dress Gray" on Dec. 16, 1985. Actor Alec Baldwin is at left. (AP Photo/Lacy Atkins)
Photos: Alec Baldwin through the years 1988: Geena Davis and Alec Baldwin, right, react in horror when they first encounter the demonic Betelgeuse (Michael Keaton) in the supernatural comedy "Beetlejuice," 1988. (AP Photo)
Photos: Alec Baldwin through the years 1990: Actor Alec Baldwin, left, is shown during rehearsals at NBC's "Saturday Night Live," with musical guests the B-52s, Keith Strickland, second from left, Kate Pierson and Fred Schneider, partially obscured, in New York on April 19, 1990. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan)
Photos: Alec Baldwin through the years 1991: Composer John Barry stands between presenters Kim Basinger and Alec Baldwin as he holds his Oscar for best original score for the film "Dances With Wolves" backstage at the 63rd annual Academy Awards in Los Angeles on March 25, 1991. (AP Photo/Bob Galbraith)
Photos: Alec Baldwin through the years 1992: Actors Kim Basinger and Alec Baldwin appear at a special industry screening of "Final Analysis," in which she stars, in Los Angeles on Feb. 7, 1992. (AP Photo)
Photos: Alec Baldwin through the years 1993: Actress Julie Harris, right, poses with actor Alec Baldwin, center, and actress Joan Van Ark at the gala benefit for the American Academy of Dramatic Arts at the Plaza Hotel in New York City, Sunday evening, Feb. 7, 1993. (AP Photo/Teddy Blackburn)
Photos: Alec Baldwin through the years 1994: Actress Kim Basinger is shown in a June 26, 1994, photo with her husband, actor Alec Baldwin. (AP Photo)
Photos: Alec Baldwin through the years 1995: Actor Alec Baldwin arrives for the 1995 Tony Awards at Broadway's Minskoff Theater in New York on June 4, 1995. (AP Photo/Joe Tabacca)
Photos: Alec Baldwin through the years 1996: Al Pacino and Alec Baldwin star in "Looking for Richard." (Getty Images)
Photos: Alec Baldwin through the years 1998: Married American actors Alec Baldwin and Kim Basinger sit at a table during the Golden Globe Awards ceremony held at the Beverly Hilton, Beverly Hills, California, on January 18, 1998. (Ron Wolfson/Getty Images)
Photos: Alec Baldwin through the years 1999: American actor Alec Baldwin and wife Kim Basinger. (Diane Freed/Liaison via Getty Images)
Photos: Alec Baldwin through the years 2000: Actor Alec Baldwin and wife Kim Basinger arrive for the world premiere of "I Dreamed of Africa" on April 18, 2000, at Sony Theatres Lincoln Square in New York City. (Laura Walters/Liaison Agency via Getty Images)
Photos: Alec Baldwin through the years 2001: Actor Alec Baldwin arrives at the world premiere of Disney's "Pearl Harbor" on May 21, 2001, in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. (Chris Weeks/Getty Images)
Photos: Alec Baldwin through the years 2002: Actor Alec Baldwin speaks to delegates having dinner at the Florida Democratic Party State Conference on April 13, 2002, in Lake Buena Vista, near Orlando, Florida. (Matt Stroshane/Getty Images)
Photos: Alec Baldwin through the years 2004: Best supporting actor winner Alec Baldwin attends the National Board of Review of Motion Pictures 2003 annual Awards Gala at Tavern on the Green January 13, 2004, in New York City. (Evan Agostini/Getty Images)
Photos: Alec Baldwin through the years 2004: Alec Baldwin and his date attend the American Theater Wing luncheon honoring Isabelle Stevenson at the Pierre Hotel on April 19, 2004, in New York City. (Scott Gries/Getty Images)
Photos: Alec Baldwin through the years 2005: Actor Alec Baldwin and daughter Ireland Eliesse Baldwin arrive at PETA's 15th Anniversary Gala and Humanitarian Awards at Paramount Studios on September 10, 2005, in Hollywood, California. (Stephen Shugerman/Getty Images)
Photos: Alec Baldwin through the years 2006: Actor Alec Baldwin speaks during a segment of "The Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson" at CBS Television Studios on November 3, 2006, in Los Angeles. (Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images)
Photos: Alec Baldwin through the years 2007: The cast of "30 Rock" poses in the pressroom with their Emmy for Outstanding Comedy Series during the 59th annual Primetime Emmy Awards at the Shrine Auditorium on September 16, 2007, in Los Angeles. (Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
Photos: Alec Baldwin through the years 2008: Actors Tina Fey (left) and Alec Baldwin pose in the press room with their Emmys for Best Actor for "30 Rock" during the 60th Primetime Emmy Awards held at Nokia Theatre on September 21, 2008, in Los Angeles. (Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)
Photos: Alec Baldwin through the years 2009: Actor Alec Baldwin (left) and his daughter, Ireland, pose with his award for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Comedy Series for "30 Rock" in the press room at the 15th annual Screen Actors Guild Awards held at the Shrine Auditorium on January 25, 2009, in Los Angeles. (Jason Merritt/Getty Images)
Photos: Alec Baldwin through the years 2010: Co-hosts Steve Martin (left) and Alec Baldwin onstage during the 82nd annual Academy Awards held at Kodak Theatre on March 7, 2010, in Hollywood, California. (Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
Photos: Alec Baldwin through the years 2011: Hilaria Thomas (left) and Alec Baldwin attend Tony Bennett's 85th Birthday Gala Benefit for Exploring the Arts at the Metropolitan Opera House on September 18, 2011, in New York City. (Jemal Countess/Getty Images for Tony Bennett)
Photos: Alec Baldwin through the years 2012: Alec Baldwin (left) and Hilaria Thomas attend the 2012 Ripple of Hope Gala at the New York Marriott Marquis on December 3, 2012, in New York City. (Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images)
Photos: Alec Baldwin through the years 2013: Actor Alec Baldwin and wife Hilaria Thomas arrive at the 19th annual Screen Actors Guild Awards held at the Shrine Auditorium on January 27, 2013, in Los Angeles. (Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)
Photos: Alec Baldwin through the years 2014: Alec Baldwin and Hilaria Baldwin attend the Elton John AIDS Foundation's 13th annual An Enduring Vision Benefit at Cipriani Wall Street on October 28, 2014, in New York City. (Neilson Barnard/Getty Images for CIROC Vodka)
Photos: Alec Baldwin through the years 2015: Alec Baldwin and Hilaria Thomas attend OCRF's 18th annual Super Saturday NY Hosted by Donna Karan and Kelly Ripa on July 25, 2015, in Water Mill City. (Mike Coppola/Getty Images for OCRF)
Photos: Alec Baldwin through the years 2016: Alec Baldwin as Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump and Kate McKinnon as Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton during the "Debate Cold Open" sketch on "Saturday Night Live" on October 1, 2016. (Will Heath/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images via Getty Images)
Photos: Alec Baldwin through the years 2017: Alec Baldwin speaks onstage during the We Stand United NYC Rally outside Trump International Hotel & Tower on January 19, 2017, in New York City. (D Dipasupil/Getty Images)
Photos: Alec Baldwin through the years 2018: Board of Directors Co-Chair Alec Baldwin, Hilaria Baldwin and their children attend the red carpet and chairman's reception at Suna Residence during the Hamptons International Film Festival 2018 on October 6, 2018, in East Hampton, New York. (Eugene Gologursky/Getty Images for Hamptons International Film Festival)
Photos: Alec Baldwin through the years 2019: Ireland Baldwin and Alec Baldwin attend the Comedy Central Roast of Alec Baldwin at Saban Theatre on September 7, 2019, in Beverly Hills, California. (Jesse Grant/Getty Images for Comedy Central)
Photos: Alec Baldwin through the years 2020: Alec Baldwin, Hilaria Baldwin and Carmen Baldwin pose backstage at the Badgley Mischka show during New York Fashion Week: The Shows at Gallery I at Spring Studios on February 8, 2020, in New York City. (Cindy Ord/Getty Images for NYFW: The Shows)
Photos: Alec Baldwin through the years 2021: Alec Baldwin, Hilaria Baldwin and their kids attend as DreamWorks Animation presents "The Boss Baby: Family Business" world premiere at SVA Theatre on June 22, 2021, in New York City. (Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images for Universal Pictures)
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