Anti-Gun expert Alec Baldwin has been charged with involuntary manslaughter in the shooting death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins after an on-set “accident” resulted in his pointing a loaded gun at her and firing. Hannah Gutierrez Reed has also been charged.
Related: Review Our Alec Baldwin “Rust” Shooting Collection
Gutierrez Reed was the weapons supervisor on the set of the movie Rust.
Assistant director David Halls, who handed Baldwin the gun, has signed an agreement to plead guilty to negligent use of a deadly weapon, the district attorney’s office said.
Involuntary manslaughter can involve a killing that happens while a defendant is doing something that is lawful but dangerous and is acting negligently or without caution.
The charge is a fourth-degree felony, punishable by up to 18 months in jail and a $5,000 fine under New Mexico law. The charges also include a provision that could result in a mandatory five years in prison because the offense was committed with a gun.
Baldwin’s attorneys say there was no way he could know there was a live round in the pistol. Gutierrez Reed claims it was sabotage. But Halyna Hutchins is dead, and it’s a high-profile tragedy.
“If any one of these three people — Alec Baldwin, Hannah Gutierrez Reed or David Halls — had done their job, Halyna Hutchins would be alive today. It’s that simple,” said Reeb, also a newly sworn Republican state legislator.
The DA and Sherriff probably want to make a case, so we’ll see what shakes out, and let’s be honest. If someone handed you or I a gun and said it was or wasn’t loaded, and we shot and killed someone, well … we’d be guilty of not doing what you always do with a working firearm. Check it. Recheck it. Check it a third time.
You always check the firearm. I guess anti-gun expert Alec Baldwin didn’t realize, and I doubt they teach you that at Anti-Gun training class.
Charges will be filed by the end of this month.
