Actor Alec Baldwin is facing a manslaughter charge over the shooting of cinematographer Helena Hutchins, who was killed on the set of RUST.
Baldwin was rehearsing a scene in the film when the shooting took place on a New Mexico ranch in October 2021.
Hana Gutierrez Reed, the film’s weapons officer, will also be charged.
Neither of them commented on the accusations.
On Thursday, Santa Fe District Attorney Mary Carmack Altois announced in a statement that the two will be charged by the end of the month.
“Actor and producer Alec Baldwin and weapons officer Hannah Gutierrez Reid will be charged with two counts of manslaughter. I have determined there is sufficient evidence,” the statement read.
“No one is above the law and everyone deserves justice,” she said.
Both face up to 18 months in prison and a $5,000 fine if convicted. Prosecutors said they would be tried by a jury.
The film’s director, Joel Souza, was also wounded in the shooting, but prosecutors said no charges would be filed in connection with this.
After the shooting, Baldwin said he did not pull the trigger, and did not know the gun was loaded.
In December 2021, he said, “I don’t know what happened. I don’t know how that bullet got into the gun. I don’t know.”
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In October, the 64-year-old actor and the film’s production company reached a settlement for an undisclosed amount with the Hutchins family.
It came after the cinematographer’s husband, Matthew, filed a wrongful death lawsuit alleging breaches of safety standards.
“We all believe Helena’s death was a terrible accident,” Hutchins said in a statement at the time. “I have no interest in engaging in accusations or blame.”
Production on the film was due to resume this year, with Hutchins as executive producer.
