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Actor Alec Baldwin and a weapons specialist have been formally charged with involuntary manslaughter in the fatal shooting of a cinematographer on the set of Rust, according to court documents.
- Alec Baldwin and Hannah Gutierrez-Reed have been charged after Halyna Hutchins was fatally injured on set in 2021
- Mr Baldwin was allegedly pointing a pistol at Ms Hutchins when the gun went off
- The pair maintain their innocence and have vowed to fight the charges
Mr Baldwin and Hannah Gutierrez-Reed — who supervised weapons on the set in New Mexico in October 2021 when Halyna Hutchins died after being wounded during rehearsals in 2021 in New Mexico — have been named in the charging documents.
Mr Baldwin was allegedly pointing a pistol at Ms Hutchins when the gun went off, killing her and wounding director Joel Souza.
The filing comes nearly two weeks after it was announced that Mr Baldwin and Ms Gutierrez-Reed would be prosecuted for what authorities have described as a pattern of criminal disregard for safety.
In recent weeks, Santa Fe District Attorney Mary Carmack-Altwies has outlined two sets of involuntary manslaughter charges in connection with the shooting.
Mr Baldwin and Ms Gutierrez-Reed maintain their innocence and have vowed to fight the charges.
Prosecutors have said Mr Baldwin's involvement as a producer and as the person who fired the gun weighed in the decision to file charges.
Mr Baldwin's attorney, Luke Nikas, declined comment and referred to his previous statement on the case, in which he called the charges a "terrible miscarriage of justice" that he and his client would fight and win.
"Mr Baldwin had no reason to believe there was a live bullet in the gun – or anywhere on the movie set," the statement said.
"He relied on the professionals with whom he worked."
Ms Hutchins' death has led to new safety precautions in the film industry.
Mr Baldwin and Ms Gutierrez-Reed will be issued a summons to appear in court.
Prosecutors also said they would release the terms of a signed plea agreement with assistant director David Halls, who oversaw safety on the set.
Participants in the unfilmed rehearsal have given conflicting accounts of who handed the gun to Mr Baldwin.
Mr Halls has agreed to plead guilty in the negligent use of a deadly weapon, they said.
Heather Brewer, a spokeswoman for the district attorney's office, said in a statement that prosecutors were "fully focused on securing justice for Halyna Hutchins" and "the evidence and the facts speak for themselves".
Mr Baldwin, who was also a co-producer on Rust, has described the killing as a tragic accident.
The 64-year-old said he was told the gun was safe and is suing people involved in handling and supplying the loaded .45-caliber revolver.
In his lawsuit, Mr Baldwin said that while working on camera angles with Hutchins, he pointed the gun in her direction and pulled back and released the hammer of the weapon, which discharged.
Defence attorney Jason Bowles, who represents Ms Gutierrez-Reed, said the charges were the result of a "flawed investigation" and an "inaccurate understanding of the full facts".
Prosecutors will forgo a grand jury and rely on a judge to determine if there is sufficient evidence to move toward trial.
It could take up to 60 days for a decision.
Involuntary manslaughter can involve a killing that happens while a defendant is doing something that is lawful but dangerous and is acting negligently or without caution.
AP