Actor Alec Baldwin has been indicted on an involuntary manslaughter charge by a grand jury in Santa Fe, New Mexico.
Driving the news: The indictment follows a fatal shooting incident on a movie set in New Mexico in 2021, where Baldwin was pointing a gun at cinematographer Halyna Hutchins during a rehearsal.
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- The gun went off, resulting in Hutchins’ death and the injury of director Joel Souza.
- The indictment provides prosecutors with two alternative standards for pursuing the involuntary manslaughter charge against Baldwin.
- Civil lawsuits seeking compensation from Baldwin and the producers of the movie Rust have been put on hold pending the outcome of the criminal case.
- The trial for the movie’s weapons supervisor, Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, who pleaded not guilty to involuntary manslaughter and evidence tampering, is scheduled to begin in February.
- Assistant director and safety coordinator David Halls pleaded no contest to unsafe handling of a firearm and received probation.
- Prior to the indictment, investigators had found that the gun used could go off without pulling the trigger if force was applied to an uncocked hammer.
What they’re saying: “We look forward to our day in court,” said Luke Nikas and Alex Spiro, defense attorneys for Baldwin, in an email to the Associated Press.
