Hollywood actor Alec Baldwin is facing one count of involuntary manslaughter for his role in the death of an employee on the set of the film Rust. The actor was previously charged as a result of the fatal shooting and now faces possible prison time pending trial.
Baldwin was indicted by a New Mexico grand jury for his role in the death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins in 2021. Baldwin allegedly caused a discharge of what he believed was a prop gun with dummy ammunition while filming Rust.
However, he pointed the firearm at Hutchins and it contained live ammunition. During the incident, Baldwin also injured the film’s director, Joel Souza.
The film’s armorer said that Baldwin’s decision to point the gun at Hutchins went “against all rules and common sense.”
Following the indictment, Baldwin’s attorney said that his client looked forward “to our day in court.”
Baldwin has insisted that he did not pull the trigger of the firearm. He said that he cocked the weapon, but did not intentionally fire the fatal shot.
The actor said in an interview that he was holding the weapon in the way that the cinematographer told her to. He said that in the scene, he was to cock the weapon.
According to Baldwin, he asked Hutchins if she would like to see him do so, and she allegedly agreed. “So I take the gun and I sort of cock the gun, I’m not going to pull the trigger,” Baldwin said. He said that Hutchins had him adjust how he was holding the firearm.
After asking whether she could see how the gun was handled, Baldwin said that he let go of the gun’s hammer “and the gun goes off.” “The trigger wasn’t pulled,” Baldwin said.
“I didn’t pull the trigger.”
Alec Baldwin indicated With Involuntary Manslaughter pic.twitter.com/QFgE3z8mBr
— The Epoch Times (@EpochTimes) January 20, 2024
Baldwin achieved considerable success on the large and small screen in the 1980s and 1990s. However, as he has declined in popularity, the actor has become an increasingly outspoken political activist.
Many on the political left lauded Baldwin’s portrayal of former President Donald Trump on Saturday Night Live, where he mocked Trump’s manner of speaking and administration. Baldwin has also supported a number of left-wing causes.
