Actor and producer Alec Baldwin is being charged with involuntary manslaughter within the deadly 2021 capturing on the set of the Western movie “Rust,” prosecutors in New Mexico introduced Thursday. 

Throughout rehearsals for the movie, Baldwin held the Colt gun that discharged a dwell spherical that killed cinematographer Halyna Hutchins and wounded director Joel Souza.

“After an intensive overview of the proof and the legal guidelines of the state of New Mexico, I’ve decided that there’s ample proof to file prison prices in opposition to Alec Baldwin and different members of the ‘Rust’ movie crew,” District Lawyer Mary Carmack-Altwies stated in a press release launched Thursday morning. “On my watch, nobody is above the legislation, and everybody deserves justice.”

Baldwin and Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, the armorer who oversaw firearms on the set, are every being charged with two counts of involuntary manslaughter, a fourth-degree felony punishable by as much as a yr and a half in jail and a $5,000 high quality. The costs additionally embrace a provision that would end in a compulsory 5 years in jail as a result of the offense was dedicated with a gun.

Baldwin’s lawyer stated the actor plans to “combat” the fees following the announcement.

“Mr. Baldwin had no motive to imagine there was a dwell bullet within the gun – or anyplace on the film set,” lawyer Luke Nikas stated. “He relied on the professionals with whom he labored, who assured him the gun didn’t have dwell rounds. We are going to combat these prices, and we are going to win.” 

Beneath is a timeline of occasions following the capturing that led to prison prices. 

October 21, 2021: Cinematographer Halyna Hutchins killed after Alec Baldwin’s prop firearm discharged on set

Hutchins dies after being shot throughout setup for a scene within the western film “Rust” at a filmset ranch on the outskirts of Santa Fe. 

Baldwin was pointing a pistol at Hutchins when the gun went off went off, killing her and wounding the director, Joel Souza.

November 17, 2021: Script supervisor sues Baldwin and producers over capturing

Mamie Mitchell, the script supervisor for “Rust,” recordsdata a lawsuit over the deadly on-set capturing, claiming Baldwin and others concerned with producing the movie didn’t hold the set secure. 

In line with the lawsuit, the movie’s producers and others repeatedly jeopardized the protection of the solid and crew by skimping on security measures to chop prices. 

The swimsuit claims there had been two cases the place weapons had been misfired on set previous to the deadly capturing. The swimsuit additionally claims that the gun utilized by Baldwin was “recurrently left unattended” throughout filming, as was the cart storing ammunition, which might violate trade requirements. 

December 3, 2021: Baldwin describes capturing throughout interview

Baldwin offers an emotional interview to ABC Information’ George Stephanopoulos the place he skirted duty for the deadly capturing.

“Somebody is accountable for what occurred and I can not say who that’s, however I do know it isn’t me,” he stated.

Baldwin advised Stephanopoulos that he had no thought there was a dwell spherical within the gun, and stated he did not understand it had killed Hutchins and injured Souza till hours after the incident.

Within the interview, Baldwin stated that moments earlier than the capturing, he and Hutchins have been going over digicam angles for a scene involving a gun inside the church on set, and Hutchins was instructing him to level the gun within the space of her armpit.

Baldwin additionally stated in the course of the interview that when he was handed the gun he was advised it was chilly and that he was cocking the gun however not pulling the set off as they rehearsed the scene.

October 5, 2022: Baldwin declares settlement with Hutchins’ household

Matthew Hutchins, Halyna’s husband, and Baldwin announce an settlement to settle one of many civil circumstances stemming from the capturing.  In a press release from his lawyer, Hutchins stated he could be named an government producer of the movie, which is about to renew filming “with all the unique principal gamers on board.”

“All of us imagine Halyna’s demise was a horrible accident,” Hutchins stated. “I’m grateful that the producers and the leisure group have come collectively to pay tribute to Halyna’s remaining work.”

In an Instagram put up, Baldwin known as the settlement a “decision of this tragic and painful state of affairs.”

“All through this troublesome course of, everybody has maintained the precise need to do what’s greatest for Halyna’s son,” Baldwin stated within the put up.

October 27, 2022: Santa Fe Sheriff’s Workplace submits its investigative findings to prosecutors

The Santa Fe Sheriff’s Workplace submits its investigative findings to prosecutors in Hutchins’ demise. 

Santa Fe Sheriff’s Workplace spokesman Juan Ríos turned over the division’s findings to a Santa Fe-based district lawyer’s workplace with out setting forth any suggestions about potential prison prices.

In line with Ríos, the case file outlined all of the proof collected, together with investigative interviews and forensic evaluation of bodily proof by the FBI. 

November 11, 2022: Baldwin sues armorer and several other different crew members concerned within the “Rust” manufacturing for negligence 

Baldwin recordsdata a lawsuit in opposition to a number of “Rust” crew members for negligence. The swimsuit claims that the actor was not accountable for the set’s security, and he didn’t know there have been dwell rounds within the gun.

The swimsuit alleges that the armorer, Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, “didn’t verify the bullets or the gun rigorously;” assistant director David Halls “didn’t verify the gun rigorously and but introduced the gun was secure earlier than handing it to Baldwin;” and prop grasp Sarah Zachry “didn’t disclose that Gutierrez-Reed had been performing recklessly off set and was a security danger to these round her.” 

The swimsuit additionally claims that Baldwin, a producer on the movie, “didn’t know and had no motive to know any of those information.”

January 19, 2023: Prosecutors announce Baldwin to be charged with involuntary manslaughter

Prosecutors announce that Baldwin and Gutierrez-Reed will every be charged with two counts of involuntary manslaughter for his or her position in Hutchins’ demise.