The Santa Fe District Attorney’s Office dropped gun enhancement charges against Alec Baldwin Monday, in connection with the 2021 fatal shooting at the “Rust” movie set in New Mexico.
According to ABC News, Baldwin is still accused of involuntary manslaughter, but the sentence carries a more lenient sentence than gun enhancement charges, should he get convicted.
Baldwin and the film’s armorer, Hannah Gutierrez Reed, are both charged with two counts of involuntary manslaughter. Reed is facing criminal charges for allegedly loading the gun before handing it off to an assistant director, who then gave the gun to Baldwin before rehearsal.
As CrimeOnline previously reported, Baldwin was reported to be four feet from the crew on set in October 2021, in a mock church pew at Bonanza Creek Ranch, when he used his right hand to reach across his body to grab the gun holstered on his left side.
He was reportedly aiming the gun toward cinematographer Halyna Hutchins when he drew back the hammer. The bullet first went through director Joel Souza’s shoulder before striking Hutchins in the chest, killing her.
On the day of the shooting, six camera crew members reportedly walked off the set due to issues with housing and payment. A witness said the six crew members were threatened with security if they did not leave and they were replaced with three non-union members.
Reports indicated crew members used the gun on the day of the shooting for target practice — and had used live rounds to shoot at beer cans to pass time on set.
This is a developing story and will be updated as additional information becomes available. Check back for updates.
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[Feature Photo: FILE – In this Sept. 21, 2015 file photo, actor Alec Baldwin attends a news conference at United Nations headquarters. A prop firearm discharged by veteran actor Alec Baldwin, who is starring and producing a Western movie, killed his director of photography and injured the director Thursday, Oct. 21, 2021 at the movie set outside Santa Fe, N.M., the Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office said. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig, File)]
