A grand jury has indicted Alec Baldwin on an involuntary manslaughter charge related to the tragic shooting incident on the set of the Western movie “Rust” in October 2021. The indictment revives a dormant case against Baldwin, who was both the lead actor and co-producer of the film.

During a rehearsal outside Santa Fe, Baldwin was pointing a gun at cinematographer Halyna Hutchins when it discharged, fatally shooting her and injuring director Joel Souza. Baldwin claims he pulled back the hammer, not the trigger, but forensic analysis now challenges that assertion.

Special prosecutors revisited the case after receiving a new analysis of the gun used in the incident. The examination, led by ballistics and forensic experts, concluded that the trigger had to have been pulled or depressed for the gun to fire. This contradicts Baldwin’s earlier explanation.

Earlier involuntary manslaughter charges against Baldwin were dismissed in April, citing the possibility of the gun being modified. However, a subsequent analysis using replacement parts to reassemble the firearm revealed a different narrative.

The weapons supervisor on set, Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, is also facing charges of involuntary manslaughter and evidence tampering, with her trial scheduled for February. Another member of the production team, David Halls, pleaded no contest to unsafe handling of a firearm.

The Rust Movie Productions company, associated with “Rust,” paid a $100,000 fine for safety violations, highlighting failures in industry protocols. Civil lawsuits, including wrongful death claims, have been filed against Baldwin and others, alleging lax safety standards.

Despite the legal turmoil, the filming of “Rust” resumed in Montana last year under an agreement with the cinematographer’s widower, Matthew Hutchins, who became an executive producer on the project. The case continues to unfold, bringing renewed attention to safety practices in the film industry.

Credit: AP