(Jacob Bruns, Headline USA) Hollywood actor Alec Baldwin may finally face homicide charges for the shooting death of a cinamatographer on the set of the movie Rust last year, the New York Post reported.
Baldwin, who has a long history of violent outbursts, claims the gun that killed cinematographer Halyna Hutchins in October 2021 discharged on its own without his having pulled the trigger, although it was in his hand at the time.
However, Santa Fe District Attorney Mary Carmack–Altwies has filed an emergency request for $635,500 from New Mexico’s Board of Finance in order to fund her prosecution of four people associated with the incident and that “one of the possible defendants is well known movie actor Alec Baldwin.” The other three suspects remain unnamed for now.
“During the filming of [Rust], Alec Baldwin shot and killed Halyna Hutchins and injured Joel Souza while rehearsing a scene,” Carmack–Altwies wrote. “Many individuals had handled the gun that ultimately killed Hutchins and injured Souza.”
Her investigation was delayed because the FBI had seized evidence from the case, but now she is able to resume with the FBI’s role in the probe completed.
“The results of the investigation have now been returned to my office,” Carmack–Altwies said.
“Only a few items are outstanding but are expected any day,” she continued. “I am ready to start the decision of what individuals will be criminally charged in this case.”
Baldwin’s attorney, Luke Nikas, released a statement suggesting that it remains unclear whether or not anyone will be charged.
“The DA has made clear that she has not received the sheriff’s report or made any decisions about who, if anyone, might be charged in this case,” Nikas said.
Yet when asked what charges specifically could be leveled, Carmack–Altwies noted that her office is “certainly looking at all the homicide statutes and any gun statutes under New Mexico criminal code.”
