Halyna Hutchins’ family say they support Alec Baldwin’s manslaughter charge – months after settling a wrongful death case with the Hollywood star.
It was announced that Baldwin, 64, and gunsmith Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, 25, would be charged with involuntary manslaughter on Thursday, 15 months after the 42-year-old cinematographer was shot dead by the actor on the set of Rust in New Mexico.
The Hutchins family, including her husband Matthew and nine-year-old son Andros, welcomed the decision through their attorney, Brian J. Panish, who said, “It is a comfort to the family that in New Mexico no one is above the law. ‘
Panish added that Hutchins was killed “in a knowing disregard for human life” and stated that an “independent investigation also supports the merits of the charges.”
It comes after Baldwin reached a secret settlement with the family in October, after which the widower told Matthew he had “no interest in getting involved in any allegations”.
Halyna Hutchins with her husband Matthew, a film producer, and their son Andros, who was eight when his mother was shot on the set of Rust in New Mexico
Alec Baldwin exiting La Colombe coffee shop early in the morning on November 1, 2022 in New York City, NY, USA. Baldwin vowed to fight the charges, calling them a “horrific miscarriage of justice.”
Gunsmith Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, 25, (left) is also said to be charged with involuntary manslaughter. Dave Halls, the assistant director, has pleaded guilty to charges of negligent use of a deadly weapon.
The family launched the wrongful death lawsuit against the actor, the gunsmith and other producers last February.
As part of the settlement, Baldwin made Matthew executive producer on the film, which is set to resume production in Los Angeles.
Matthew, who called Baldwin “supportive” in the immediate aftermath of Halyna’s death, said after the settlement was finalized, “I have no interest in allegations or blame (on the producers or Mr. Baldwin).”
He added: “We all believe Halyna’s death was a horrible accident. I’m grateful that the producers and entertainment community came together to pay tribute to Halyna’s final work.”
It’s not clear why the Hutchins family now supports the charges against Baldwin.
Baldwin vowed early Thursday to take action against prosecutors, calling it a “horrific miscarriage of justice.”
He and Gutierrez-Reed, who loaded the prop gun that killed Hutchins, face a maximum of 18 months in prison if convicted.
Dave Halls, the assistant director, has pleaded guilty to charges of negligent use of a deadly weapon.
Baldwin’s attorney said in a statement: “This decision distorts the tragic death of Halyna Hutchins and constitutes a horrific miscarriage of justice. Mr. Baldwin had no reason to believe there was a live bullet in the gun – or anywhere on the film set.
“He relied on the professionals he worked with to reassure him that the gun had no live cartridges. We will fight these allegations and we will win.”
But Mary Carmack-Altwies, New Mexico’s First Judicial District Attorney, stands firm.
In a post-announcement interview with CNN, she said Baldwin pulled the trigger — and that he ran a “fast and loose set” that was plagued by safety issues.
“There was such a lack of security and safety standards on this set. There were live rounds on set, they were mixed in with dummy rounds.
“Nobody checked these, or at least they didn’t check them regularly.
“They were sort of loaded into a gun, handed over to Alec Baldwin, he didn’t check, he didn’t do what he was supposed to do to make sure he was safe or that someone else was safe.
“He pointed the gun at Halyna Hutchins and pulled the trigger,” she said.
She said a “total of circumstances” led to the decision, adding, “This was a really fast and loose set. And that nobody did their job.’
Halyna Hutchins was shot dead by actor Alec Baldwin on October 21, 2021
Baldwin (left) with Hutchins and other actors from the film before the fatal accident
Baldwin is shown on the set by Rust practicing drawing his gun
Though it may have been an accident, she said Baldwin “doesn’t get a free pass” because he’s a star.
“Just because it’s an accident doesn’t mean it’s not criminal. They didn’t want to do it, they had no intention of killing, but it happened anyway, and it happened because of more than mere negligence.
“We’ve spoken to a lot of actors, A-list and others who have said they always check their guns or have someone check them in front of them.
“An actor doesn’t get a free pass just because he’s an actor. Before the law all are equal.’
Gutierrez-Reed also vowed to fight the charges.
In a statement, her attorneys said: “Hannah is and always has been very emotional and saddened by this tragic accident. But she didn’t commit involuntary manslaughter.
“These allegations are the result of a very flawed investigation and an inaccurate understanding of the full facts.
“We intend to bring the full truth to light and believe that Hannah will be acquitted of her wrongdoing by a jury.”
The public prosecutor is convinced of the decision.
It was greeted by the Hutchins family with Panish’s full statement, which said: “We would like to thank the Santa Fe Sheriff and the District Attorney for completing their thorough investigation and determining that the involuntary manslaughter charge has been passed for the assassination of Halyna Hutchins is a willful disregard for human life.
“Our independent investigation also confirms that the charges are well founded. It is a comfort to the family that in New Mexico no one is above the law.
“We support the charges, will cooperate fully with this prosecutor’s office and fervently hope that the justice system works to protect the public and hold those who break the law accountable.”
Mary Carmack-Altwies, New Mexico’s First Judicial District Attorney, stands firm. She said in an interview with CNN today, “An actor doesn’t get a free pass just because he’s an actor,” as she vowed to take the case to court
Baldwin, 64, accidentally shot Hutchins on the set of the October 2021 Western film.
For the past 15 months, he has strongly denied responsibility for the accident and insisted he did not pull the trigger, although an FBI forensic analysis of the prop gun he used concluded he did.
Prosecutors have defied criticism of the long delay in decision-making.
They said they were forced to wait for reports from both the FBI – which took 10 months – and the local Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office – which took a year.
There was no press conference today to announce the decision.
Instead, the prosecutor’s office issued a written statement to the media, which was also published online.