Actor Alec Baldwin and armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed are to be charged with involuntary manslaughter in the shooting death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on the set of the movie, Rust.

The charges were announced on Thursday by New Mexico First Judicial District Attorney Mary Carmack-Altwies and Rust Special Prosecutor Andrea Reeb in a written statement.

“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 Andrea Reeb, the special prosecutor appointed by the district attorney to the case. 

Baldwin’s attorney, Luke Nikas, released the following statement on the charges that are yet to be officially filed against the star: “This decision distorts Halyna Hutchins’ tragic death and represents a terrible miscarriage of justice. Mr. Baldwin had no reason to believe there was a live bullet in the gun – or anywhere on the movie set. He relied on the professionals with whom he worked, who assured him the gun did not have live rounds. We will fight these charges, and we will win.”  

Baldwin, 64, accidentally shot and killed Hutchins on the set of Rust in October 2021. 

Can Alex Baldwin face jail time? 

Both Baldwin and Gutierrez-Reed face a maximum of 18 months in prison if convicted.  

In New Mexico, “Involuntary manslaughter consists of manslaughter committed in the commission of an unlawful act not amounting to a felony, or in the commission of a lawful act [which] might produce death in an unlawful manner or without due caution and circumspection.”

Under New Mexico law, involuntary manslaughter is a fourth-degree felony and is punishable by up to 18 months in jail and a $5,000 fine. This charge also includes the misdemeanor charge of the negligent use of a firearm, which would likely merge as a matter of law.