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Alec Baldwin formally charged with involuntary manslaughter in 'Rust' shooting

Alec Baldwin formally charged with involuntary manslaughter in 'Rust' shooting
BREAKING NEWS AND THAT BREAKING NEWS INVOLUNTARY MANSLAUGHTER CHARGES. THAT IS WHAT HE’S SANTA FE DISTRICT ATTORNEY PLANS TO CHARGE ACTOR ALEC BALDWIN AND ARMOR OR HANNAH GUTIERREZ READ WITH FOR THE REST OF MOVIE START SHOOTING BALDWIN FIRED A PROP GUN ON A MOVIE SET OUTSIDE SANTA FE. KILLING CINEMATOGRAPHER LENA HUTCHINS. WE DO HAVE TEAM COVERAGE ON THIS BREAKING NEWS. GENEVIEVE GLASS HAS BEEN WORKING WITH OUR LEGAL EXPERT, JOHN DAY, BREAKING DOWN THE CRIMINAL CHARGES THAT ARE GOING TO BE FILED. GENEVIEVE, OUR LEGAL EXPERTS SAYING THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY IS BEING VERY AGGRESSIVE IN THIS CASE AND THESE TWO COULD FACE SOME SERIOUS TIME BEHIND BARS. YEAH, EXACTLY. TODD. NOW, JOHN DAY TELLING US THAT ALEC BALDWIN AND ARMOR HANNAH GUTIERREZ, REED, WHO WILL BOTH BE CHARGED WITH INVOLUNTARY MANSLAUGHTER, COULD FACE UP TO SIX AND A HALF YEARS IN JAIL. IN NEW MEXICO, IT’S A FOURTH DEGREE FELONY. NORMALLY, IT CARRIES AN 18 MONTH SENTENCE IN A STATE PRISON, A FINE OF $5,000. IN THIS CASE, THE D.A. HAS INDICATED THAT SHE WOULD BE ADDING WHAT’S CALLED A FIREARM ENHANCEMENT, WHICH IS A FIVE YEAR ADD ON TO THAT, ANY PENALTY TO ANY JAIL SENTENCE POTENTIALLY, BECAUSE THERE’S THE USE OF A GUN. WE ALSO ASKED JOHN IF HE WAS SURPRISED BY THESE CHARGES. FROM ONE PERSPECTIVE, IT’S A LITTLE SURPRISING. I THINK THERE WAS A LOT OF SENTIMENT THAT BALDWIN WASN’T GOING TO GET CHARGED BECAUSE ALL HE DID WAS POINT A GUN THAT WAS HANDED TO HIM. BUT I THINK WHEN WE PICK THIS APART, WE LOOK AT THE WE LOOK AT THE D.A. SAYING, LOOK, GUNS ARE SERIOUS. GUNS ARE NOT TOYS. NEW MEXICO’S A STATE WITH A LOT OF GUNS. IF YOU’RE GOING TO BE USING GUNS, WHETHER IT’S A MOVIE SET, WHETHER IT’S ANYWHERE ELSE, YOU’VE GOT TO BE TAKING IT DEADLY SERIOUSLY. THE SPECIAL PROSECUTOR APPOINTED BY THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY TO HANDLE THIS CASE SAYING, QUOTE, IF ANY OF THESE THREE PEOPLE, ALEC BALDWIN, HANNAH GUTIERREZ, REID OR DAVID HOLES HAD DONE THEIR JOB, COLLEEN HUTCHENS WOULD BE ALIVE TODAY. IT’S THAT SIMPLE. SHE CONTINUED, IN NEW MEXICO, THERE IS NO ROOM FOR FILM SETS THAT DON’T TAKE OUR STATE’S COMMITMENT TO GUN SAFETY AND PUBLIC SAFETY SERIOUSLY. AFTER THE CHARGES ARE FILED, BOTH GUTIERREZ, REED AND BALDWIN WILL BE ISSUED A SUMMONS TO APPEAR IN COURT. I’LL HAVE MORE UPDATES FROM OUR LEGAL EXPERT JOHN DAY, IN ABOUT 30 MINUTES. TODD, GENEVIEVE, THANK YOU. MINUTES AGO, THE SANTA FE DISTRICT ATTORNEY SPOKE WITH CNN ABOUT HOW SHE REACHED THE DECISION IN THIS CASE. IT WAS A WELL INVESTIGATED CASE, BUT WE HAD SOME FOLLOW UP THAT WE HAD TO DO, HAD TO SPEAK WITH SOME EXPERTS. AND ONCE WE READ THROUGH EVERYTHING AND RESEARCHED THE CASE LAW AND THE LAW HERE IN NEW MEXICO, WE REALIZED THAT WE BELIEVED THAT THERE WAS PROBABLE CAUSE TO CHARGE ALEC BALDWIN AND HANNAH GUTIERREZ READE WITH INVOLUNTARY MANSLAUGHTER. BALDWIN HAD MAINTAINED HIS INNOCENCE THROUGHOUT THIS, EVEN PUBLICLY SHARING THAT HIS HE HAD CONFIDENCE HE WOULDN’T BE CHARGED JUST MINUTES AGO, THOUGH, HIS ATTORNEY ADDRESSED THE CHARGES IN THIS STATEMENT HERE, SAYING THIS DECISION DISTORTS ALINA HUTCHINSON’S 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, WITH HE WORKED WITH WHO ASSURED HIM THE GUN DID NOT HAVE LIVE ROUNDS. WE WILL FIGHT THESE CHARGES AND WE WILL WIN, END QUOTE. I ALSO WANT TO POINT OUT THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR FROM THE LAST MOVIE HAS SIGNED A PLEA AGREEMENT FOR THE CHARGE OF NEGLIGENT USE OF A DEADLY WEAPON. DAVID HALL WILL NOT SERVE ANY TIME BEHIND BARS, BUT WILL HAVE SIX MONTHS PROBATION. JOHN DAY BELIEVES PROSECUTORS MAY USE HIM IN THE CASES AGAINST BALDWIN AND GUTIERREZ, REED AND THE FAMILY OF HELENA HUTCHINS SENT US A STATEMENT IN REGARDS TO TODAY’S DECISION AS WELL, SAYING IN PART THIS, WE WANT TO THANK THE SANTA FE SHERIFF AND THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY FOR CONCLUDING THEIR THOROUGH INVESTIGATION AND DETERMINING THAT CHARGES FOR INVOLVE BATTERY MANSLAUGHTER ARE WARRANTED FOR THE KILLING OF HOLLY HUTCHENS WITH CONSCIOUS REGARD, DISREGARD FOR HUMAN LIFE. OUR INDEPENDENT INVESTIGATION ALSO SUPPORTS THAT CHARGES ARE WARRANTED. LET’S TAKE A SECOND HERE TO RECAP HOW WE GOT TO THIS POINT. OCTOBER 20, 21, ALEC BALDWIN FIRES A GUN, KILLING CINEMATOGRAPHER HELENA HUTCHINS AND INJURING THE DIRECTOR, JOEL SOUZA. BALDWIN HAS SAID PEOPLE IN THE KNOW HAD TOLD HIM THAT HE WOULD NOT BE CHARGED, BUT THE SANTA FE COUNTY D.A. ALWAYS SAID NO ONE WAS OFF THE HOOK. AND AGAIN, NOW THIS MORNING, WE’LL FILE CHARGES AGAINST HIM. AND JUST LAST WEEK, 15 MONTHS AFTER TH
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Alec Baldwin formally charged with involuntary manslaughter in 'Rust' shooting
Prosecutors have formally filed felony charges of involuntary manslaughter Tuesday in the fatal shooting of a cinematographer by actor Alec Baldwin during a rehearsal on the set of the movie 'Rust' in 2021.Cinematographer Halyna Hutchins died shortly after being wounded at Bonanza Creek Ranch on the outskirts of Santa Fe, New Mexico, on Oct. 21, 2021. Baldwin was pointing a pistol at Hutchins when the gun went off, killing her and wounding the film's director.In recent weeks, Santa Fe District Attorney Mary Carmack-Altwies has outlined two sets of involuntary manslaughter charges in connection with the shooting against Baldwin and film set weapons supervisor Hannah Gutierrez-Reed.Video above: Santa Fe County District Attorney speaks on charges in 'Rust' movie shootingHutchins' death has already led to new safety precautions in the film industry.Involuntary manslaughter can involve a killing that happens while a defendant is doing something lawful but dangerous and is acting negligently or without caution. Special prosecutor Andrea Reeb has cited a pattern of "criminal disregard for safety" on the set of "Rust."Prosecutors also said they will release the terms of a signed plea agreement with assistant director David Halls, who oversaw safety on the set. Participants in the un-filmed rehearsal have given conflicting accounts of who handed the gun to Baldwin.Halls has agreed to plead guilty in the negligent use of a deadly weapon, they said.Heather Brewer, a spokeswoman for the district attorney's office, said in a statement Monday that prosecutors are "fully focused on securing justice for Halyna Hutchins" and "the evidence and the facts speak for themselves."Video above: Hear the 9-1-1 calls made moments after the shooting on 'Rust' film setBaldwin, also a co-producer on "Rust," has described the killing as a tragic accident. The 64-year-old actor said he was told the gun was safe and has sought to clear his name by suing people involved in handling and supplying the loaded .45-caliber revolver.In his lawsuit, Baldwin said that while working on camera angles with Hutchins, he pointed the gun in her direction and pulled back and released the hammer of the weapon, which discharged.Video above: Alec Baldwin sues 'Rust" crew for negligence in Santa Fe movie set shootingDefense attorney Jason Bowles, who represents Gutierrez-Reed, said the charges are the result of a "flawed investigation" and an "inaccurate understanding of the full facts."Defendants can participate remotely in many initial court proceedings or seek to have their first appearance waived.Involuntary manslaughter linked to negligence is a fourth-degree felony, punishable by up to 18 months in jail and a $5,000 fine under New Mexico law. The second set of manslaughter charges allege recklessness with a provision that could result in a mandatory five years in prison because the offense was committed with a gun.The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Prosecutors have formally filed felony charges of involuntary manslaughter Tuesday in the fatal shooting of a cinematographer by actor Alec Baldwin during a rehearsal on the set of the movie 'Rust' in 2021.

Cinematographer Halyna Hutchins died shortly after being wounded at Bonanza Creek Ranch on the outskirts of Santa Fe, New Mexico, on Oct. 21, 2021. Baldwin was pointing a pistol at Hutchins when the gun went off, killing her and wounding the film's director.

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In recent weeks, Santa Fe District Attorney Mary Carmack-Altwies has outlined two sets of involuntary manslaughter charges in connection with the shooting against Baldwin and film set weapons supervisor Hannah Gutierrez-Reed.

Video above: Santa Fe County District Attorney speaks on charges in 'Rust' movie shooting

Hutchins' death has already led to new safety precautions in the film industry.

but dangerous and is acting negligently or without caution. Special prosecutor Andrea Reeb has cited a pattern of "criminal disregard for safety" on the set of "Rust."

Prosecutors also said they will release the terms of a signed plea agreement with assistant director David Halls, who oversaw safety on the set. Participants in the un-filmed rehearsal have given conflicting accounts of who handed the gun to Baldwin.

Halls has agreed to plead guilty in the negligent use of a deadly weapon, they said.

Heather Brewer, a spokeswoman for the district attorney's office, said in a statement Monday that prosecutors are "fully focused on securing justice for Halyna Hutchins" and "the evidence and the facts speak for themselves."

Video above: Hear the 9-1-1 calls made moments after the shooting on 'Rust' film set

Baldwin, also a co-producer on "Rust," has . The 64-year-old actor said he was told the gun was safe and has sought to clear his name by in handling and supplying the loaded .45-caliber revolver.

In his lawsuit, Baldwin said that while working on camera angles with Hutchins, he pointed the gun in her direction and pulled back and released the hammer of the weapon, which discharged.

Video above: Alec Baldwin sues 'Rust" crew for negligence in Santa Fe movie set shooting

Defense attorney Jason Bowles, who represents Gutierrez-Reed, said the charges are the result of a "flawed investigation" and an "inaccurate understanding of the full facts."

Defendants can participate remotely in many initial court proceedings or seek to have their first appearance waived.

Involuntary manslaughter linked to negligence is a fourth-degree felony, punishable by up to 18 months in jail and a $5,000 fine under New Mexico law. The second set of manslaughter charges allege recklessness with a provision that could result in a mandatory five years in prison because the offense was committed with a gun.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.