In a surprising turn of events, special prosecutors overseeing the "Rust" shooting case in New Mexico announced that they would be dismissing involuntary manslaughter charges against actor Alec Baldwin. The decision comes after new evidence was brought to light, indicating that the gun used in the shooting had been modified. Prosecutors will be investigating the extent of the modifications, which could have impacted how the gun functioned.
The incident occurred in 2021 when Baldwin, rehearsing a scene on the set of "Rust," accidentally fired a live round of ammunition from a prop gun, killing the film's cinematographer, Halyna Hutchins, and injuring the director, Joel Souza. Baldwin has pleaded not guilty to the charges, and his attorneys have welcomed the decision to dismiss the case against him.
However, charges against "Rust" armorer Hannah Gutierrez Reed remain unchanged, and prosecutors have said that their investigation into the incident will remain active and ongoing. Gutierrez Reed has previously stated that she will plead not guilty.
Earlier this year, the "Rust" assistant director, Dave Halls, reached a plea agreement with prosecutors for the charge of negligent use of a deadly weapon. As part of a wrongful death settlement between Matthew Hutchins, the widower of Halyna Hutchins, Baldwin, and "Rust" producers, production on the film has resumed, with Matthew Hutchins serving as an executive producer on the project.
The decision to dismiss charges against Baldwin comes one month after the previous special prosecutor in the case stepped down, following a motion by Baldwin's attorney to have her disqualified. Santa Fe District Attorney Mary Carmack-Altwies then appointed special prosecutors Kari Morrissey and Jason Lewis to take over the case.
A status hearing in the case is scheduled to take place on Friday, with Judge Mary Marlow Sommer and attorneys expected to attend the hearing via Google Meet. The hearing will be live-streamed on the New Mexico Courts YouTube site.