Actor Alec Baldwin Cleared of Criminal Charges in ‘Rust’ Shooting Case

All criminal charges against actor Alec Baldwin in connection with the tragic shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on the set of the movie Rust have been dismissed.

Prosecutors in Santa Fe had been pursuing two counts of involuntary manslaughter against the renowned Hollywood actor, but these charges have now been dropped.

Despite the dismissal of charges against Baldwin, at least five civil cases are still ongoing against him and the producers of Rust. Baldwin’s lawyers, Luke Nikas and Alex Spiro, released a statement expressing their satisfaction with the decision, stating, “We are pleased with the decision to dismiss the case against Alec Baldwin and we encourage a proper investigation into the facts and circumstances of this tragic accident.”

Meanwhile, prosecutors in Santa Fe continue to pursue involuntary manslaughter charges against the film’s weapons supervisor, Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, who has entered a not guilty plea.

This development comes as Baldwin resumes filming of Rust in Montana, a year and a half after Halyna Hutchins’ tragic death on set. Earlier this month, Baldwin requested that a lawsuit filed by the late cinematographer’s parents and sister be dismissed by a judge. The actor asserted that the plaintiffs, Olga Solovey, Anatolii Androsovych, and Svetlana Zemko, filed the suit to “obtain compensation” following Hutchins’s death in October 2021.

Hutchins’ family had filed the lawsuit in February after the 42-year-old cinematographer was fatally shot on the film set near Santa Fe, New Mexico. The suit alleges battery, negligence, intentional infliction of emotional distress, and loss of consortium, a claim in which a plaintiff seeks compensation for damages to certain mutually dependent relationships.

In 2021, Baldwin was holding the gun that discharged a live round, resulting in Hutchins’ death. The 65-year-old actor was rehearsing a scene with the weapon when it went off, killing Hutchins and injuring director Joel Souza. Baldwin has consistently denied any wrongdoing and had previously pleaded guilty to the two counts of involuntary manslaughter that have since been dismissed.

Hutchins’ husband, Matthew Hutchins, their son, and estate also sued Baldwin, alleging that reckless behavior and cost-cutting measures contributed to the cinematographer’s death. An out-of-court settlement was reached in October 2022.