The infamous Alec Baldwin Rust manslaughter investigation has seen its latest development as the Academy Award-nominated actor has been formally exonerated off all charges.
Baldwin was previously charged with involuntary manslaughter back in January for his involvement in the death of Rust cinematographer Halyna Hutchins. It was Baldwin who fired the gun, which was assumed to be loaded with dummy rounds but actually contained a live round; the bullet passed through the chest of the movie’s writer and director Joel Souza and hit Hutchins, who was then rushed to the hospital and ultimately pronounced dead. Those manslaughter charges, which came with an 18-month prison sentence, have now been dropped, according to CNN.
Baldwin has maintained his innocence throughout the investigation and previously pleaded not guilty. In February the actor received a downgraded manslaughter charge, which dropped the gun enhancement charge. Today, his attorneys Luke Nikas and Alex Spir express gratitude for the prosecutors’ decision to drop the charges. “We are pleased with the decision to dismiss the case against Alec Baldwin and encourage a proper investigation into the facts and circumstances of this tragic accident,” they said in a joint statement.
In addition to Baldwin, Hannah Gutierrez Reed, the head armorer on the set of Rust, was also charged with involuntary manslaughter. Reed’s preliminary hearing is still set for May 3, and like Baldwin, she intends to plead not guilty. Whether the charges against her will be dropped remains to be seen.
Andrea Reed, the special prosecutor in the case, stepped down from the investigation last month after Baldwin and his attorney motioned to have her disqualified, calling her association “unconstitutional.” Reed is an elected member of the New Mexico House of Representatives. Both she and Santa Fe District Attorney Mary Carmack-Altwies have now stepped down. They are currently replaced as special prosecutors by New Mexico attorneys Kari Morrissey and Jason Lewis.
The decision from prosecutors to exonerate Baldwin of charges comes the same day Rust resumed its principal photography at Yellowstone Film Ranch in Montana. Halyna Hutchins’ husband, Matthew Hutchins is now serving as the film’s executive producer.