Left: Alec Baldwin claimed in a December 2021 ABC News interview that he did not pull the trigger of a gun which fired a “lead projectile” and killed cinematographer Halyna Hutchins (screengrab via YouTube/ABC News). Top right: Halyna Hutchins (provided by her family via attorneys). Bottom right: FILE — This aerial photo shows part of the Bonanza Creek Ranch film set in Santa Fe, N.M., Oct. 23, 2021. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong, File)
Authorities in New Mexico have revived manslaughter charges against Alec Baldwin over an on-set shooting with a prop gun that killed a cinematographer.
In a grand jury indictment released Friday, prosecutors revealed that Baldwin has been charged with two counts of involuntary manslaughter in the death of Halyna Hutchins — one with negligent use of a firearm, the other without due caution or circumspection.
Hutchins was killed on Oct. 21, 2021, when a gun held by Baldwin at the time fired a real bullet during a rehearsal. Director Joel Souza was wounded by the same bullet.
As Law&Crime previously reported, Baldwin was initially charged with involuntary manslaughter in January 2023, but those charges were dropped months later.
The negligent use of a firearm charge accuses Baldwin of causing “the death of Halyna Hutchins in the commission of Negligent Use of a Firearm, an unlawful act.” The second, alternative charge says Baldwin killed Hutchins “by an act committed with the total disregard of indifference for the safety of others, and the act was such that an ordinary person would anticipate that death might occur under the circumstances.”
Both charges are fourth-degree felonies in New Mexico, punishable by up to three years in prison.
The indictment is based in part on testimony from Ross Addiego, a crew member who joined a lawsuit against Baldwin over the shooting. Other testimony was provided by additional crew members as well as investigators, the indictment says.
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